It says my standard deduction is 6300 but my federal refund is 2278. why?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Your standard deduction lowers the amount of your income that you are taxed on.  It is not a refund.  If you are filing single, you get a personal exemption of $4000 and a standard deduction of $6300.  That means the first $10,300 of your income is "tax free."  You are taxed on the amount over that, and if your withholdings exceed the tax you owe, you get a refund of the difference.

[ashleyolstad]

A deduction isn't the same as a refund. The deduction is an amount of money subtracted from your income so you pay less taxes on what is less. Say you have a 20,000 income and a 6,000 deduction, you pay taxes on 14,000 income. It simply adjusts your income down so you pay less taxes. A credit is different. 

[SweetieJean]

Deduction = subtraction from income,  before the tax rate is applied

Credit = direct subtraction from tax liability