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New Member
posted Jan 21, 2020 8:46:41 PM

I worked a full year and my tax return is only $1. This doens't seem right, does anyone have any idea why my tax return is only amounting to this little? I'm v confused

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21 Replies
Level 15
Jan 21, 2020 9:05:07 PM

if that your refund? $1? 

 

that just means the taxes taken out each paycheck "perfectly" estimated the taxes calculated on your tax return. 

Level 15
Jan 21, 2020 9:09:41 PM

While it's possible you paid the taxes down that close, it's always good to double-check.  You need to be sure you entered your income and withholding, tax payments, etc. correctly, and that there are no typo's, misplaced decimals or commas, etc.

 

Print out  your return and go over each line carefully to be sure your entries are correct.  Compare it to last year's return and see if you spot anything that looks different, and if so, investigate your entries for that topic.   Also be sure you received any tax credits you were entitled to, such as the Earned Income Credit, if applicable.

New Member
Feb 28, 2020 11:43:10 AM

Mine too?!?, I'm so bitter. 

Level 15
Feb 28, 2020 11:47:09 AM

what are you bitter about? you should be happy.  What was withheld from each paycheck meets what you owe and the government wasn't using your money all year.

 

Alternatively, ask your employer to withhold more each week.  That will cause a refund next year. 

New Member
Feb 5, 2022 8:45:19 AM

Anybody found out while there’s is doing that? Mine is doing that too 

Expert Alumni
Feb 5, 2022 2:17:38 PM

Smaller refunds aren't necessarily a bad thing: It may mean that you kept more of your own cash instead of overpaying the IRS.

 

If you can provide more details of your tax situation, I can check to see if you have missed any tax credits.

 

You can always reach out to TurboTax Experts to ask your questions before you file your returns. 

 

 

 

@Leauntay

New Member
Feb 7, 2022 1:48:30 PM

Hey did you find out what was wrong? I’m having the same problem. I can’t get in contact with turbo tax please help

Level 15
Feb 7, 2022 1:52:22 PM


@Leauntay wrote:

Hey did you find out what was wrong? I’m having the same problem. I can’t get in contact with turbo tax please help


Look at your tax return and follow the math on the lines with amounts entered.  

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

New Member
Feb 9, 2022 12:27:17 PM

Hey did you find out why your return was $1 mine is doing that now 

New Member
Jan 23, 2023 2:45:09 PM

Mine is showing only 1.00 i always get a refund.  Did you get an answer?

Expert Alumni
Jan 23, 2023 3:13:35 PM

There are many reasons your refund changes year-to-year.  This is why it is a good idea to check your withholdings at the beginning of the year and any time there are any changes during the tax year,  See Why did my refund go down compared to last year's?

New Member
Jan 23, 2023 4:09:37 PM

I have worked several years at same place..so has my daughter.  We both do zero withholding on W4 at the sign up every year.  That way max will be taken out the entire year.  The page shows your refund is $3423.00.  Before the page to submit it says 1.00.  Thats a huge difference and does not make sense.  So i am trying to find out if this is happening to anyone else who is already filing this year.

 

 

Intuit Alumni
Jan 24, 2023 12:44:25 PM

Try clearing your cache and deleting the cookies. If that doesn't work, try using a different browser. If you continue to have this experience after trying those steps, please contact Customer Support for assistance.  @melmom16 

 

For information on how to contact Customer Support, please visit the link below.

 

How do I contact TurboTax? - Intuit

 

For information on how to clear your cache, please visit the help article below.

 

How to clear your cache - Intuit

 

For information on how to delete your cookies, please visit the help article below.

 

How do I delete cookies? - Intuit

Level 1
Jan 31, 2023 8:56:11 PM

My expected Federal refund was over $400 yesterday. Today it's $1. What changed? Clearing my cache/cookies did nothing. Seems like an Intuit problem.

Expert Alumni
Feb 1, 2023 6:29:24 AM

Once you clear cache/cookies if nothing changes then revisit your Wages & Income section and make sure your income items and your federal withholding were all inputted correctly. A dollar amount mistyped can have a big impact on your refund.

 

The situations below are some of the most common reasons why you might be getting less money than you expected. For example, did you:

  • Adjust your withholding to maximize your take home pay
  • Receive unemployment benefits, but didn’t have taxes withheld
  • Earn little or no income, and didn’t qualify for the Earned Income Credit (unfortunately, unemployment doesn't count as earned income)
  • Complete a W-4, which more closely matches your tax liability
  • Sell stock
  • Take an early withdrawal from your retirement account
  • Pay less tuition due to school closures, so you can’t deduct as much

.

To maximize your refund next year, invest, and/or pay taxes you might owe, consider some of these options:

  • Amend your W-4 to increase the amount of withholdings for a higher refund next year; or
  • Instead of withholding more, put that same amount into a savings account, an IRA, or other tax-sheltered vehicles 

 

Below is a helpful guide regarding changes in refunds compared to the prior year.

 

Why did my refund go down

 

@derprotax

New Member
Feb 6, 2023 7:13:04 PM

Somethings fishy! I mean... I have never had a return For just $1 until this year. I've had the same job since 2013 basically. In 10 years of taxes.... honestly...

Expert Alumni
Feb 6, 2023 7:22:08 PM

This year, several tax credits have been lowered to amounts before the coronavirus pandemic--or eliminated entirely. This includes the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and more. Check if these changes are why your refund is lower.

There are other events unrelated to the pandemic that may reduce your refund, including:

  • Starting an additional job (especially self-employment)
  • Getting a significant raise, but your W-4 staying the same
  • Adjusting your withholding to maximize your take home pay
  • Selling stock, crypto, or other investments
  • Filing status changed
  • Receiving unemployment benefits, but not having taxes withheld
  • Taking an early withdrawal from your retirement account
  • Having a child turn 17 in 2022, now receiving the Credit for Other Dependents instead of the Child Tax Credit
  • Started receiving Social Security benefits or Roth IRA distributions
  • Paying off your mortgage, so you can no longer deduct mortgage interest
  • Paying off your student loan, so you can no longer deduct the interest
  • Finishing school, so no longer eligible for certain education credits
  • Earning little or no income and not qualifying for the Earned Income Credit

If your refund is wildly off, double-check the amounts you entered. A typo of just one dollar can have a big impact on your refund.

Level 2
Feb 28, 2023 2:41:38 PM

I am with you on this.  I just deleted a form which changed my taxable income by over $10K and my refund did not budge from $1.  I have used not only different browsers but different computers altogether and they all keep showing $1 refund regardless of changes I make to values within my return.   I think this is an issue with TT. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 28, 2023 3:04:36 PM

I am not aware of any issue with TurboTax that would show you $1 refund, however, you can look at your 1040 to see if things are changing as you make changes.

 

To do this click the following:

  • Tax Tools
  • Tools
  • View Tax Summary
  • Preview My 1040

When looking at your 1040 pay close attention to the following lines:

  • Line 1 is your income entered from your W-2's
  • Line 15 is your taxable income.  This consists of your total income minus your standard deduction which if you are single is $12,950.
  • Line 16 is your Tax based on the number on line 15
  • Line 25 is the amount of taxes your employer withheld from your wages.  If your employer did not withhold enough, this would be the biggest reason you have to pay in. 
  • Line 37 is the amount you owe. 
     

 You can go back and forth when making changes to your return.  It would be a good idea to write these numbers down as you change your entries.

 

One thing to note, depending on the type of income you deleted, if it was not taxable income, it would not make a change.  But, if you re-enter it and look at the forms and see a change, then the forms are correct and its possible that it is just a refund button issue. The refund meter does not affect your return in any way, it is just for you to watch as you make changes.  The forms are what are important. 
 

 

Level 1
Mar 1, 2023 1:37:07 PM

the revolution starts now

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2023 2:04:26 PM

Your refund in TurboTax is based on the information you entered from your W-2.  First review your entry to make sure you capture your W-2 correctly.

 

Another reason could be your income tax withholding which is solely based on how you complete your Form W-4. This is the Employee's Withholding Certificate, from which your employer determines your rate of tax withholding. The amount that gets withheld is based on the information that you provide regarding income, credit, and deductions along with any additional tax you wish to withhold. The IRS recommends that you complete a new W-4 annually or whenever your life circumstances change, to prevent having tax deducted at an unrealistic rate. If you regularly owe taxes when you file your return, or if you have other income sources or deductions that may affect your tax rate, adding an additional withheld amount on your W-4 may put you in a refund position or keep you from owing too much.

 

The article below which will help you understand your Tax Refunds.

 

Understanding Your Refund

 

Why is the refund not what I expected

 

@derpotax