My income and deductions almost mirror last year yet my federal return refund is significantly lower than 2023. I don't understand why?

[xmasbaby0]

We cannot see your screen, your return or your account.  Have you entered ALL of your 2024 information?  All your income, etc.?  Many tax documents that you need do not arrive until late January or even February, so maybe you do not have it all there yet.

There are a lot of variables that affect your refund or tax due including how much you earned, how much tax you had withheld, your filing status, the number of dependents you claim, your deductions and credits, etc.  You may have lost Earned Income Credit or the Child Tax Credit— did a child turn 17?  If you received the EIC last year, remember that changes in the amount you earn have a big effect on the amount of EIC you can get. (Sometimes earning more money means less EIC)  Are you 65 or older ?  If so, your standard deduction is higher. Everyone has a higher standard deduction now so it is harder to use itemized deductions.

And of course, always check your own data entries, looking for errors such as misplaced decimals or extra zeros.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/refund-go-compared-last-year/...

Print out 2023  and 2024  and compare them side by side to see what is different. 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-payments/video-why-would-i-owe-federal-taxes/L3VXudPiN

[VolvoGirl]

Nothing is the same as last year. There are many differences. If you have kids they are a year older. That can make big changes. Also the tax laws and brackets might have changed. The withholding tables change each year. Each year is separate. And another thing, more income = more tax and usually less refund. It could be your withholding didn't keep up with the increase in income.

You have to compare this year with last year’s return LINE BY LINE and see what changed. Maybe you’ll spot something you left out or entered wrong. Common things are leaving the decimal point out or typing a comma for a decimal point, or typing an extra digit. Getting the wrong taxable amount on a 1099R entry or entering the 1099R wrong and getting hit with a penalty. Missing the qualified dividends in 1099-DIV box 2a. I could go on and on.

Why did your refund go down this year?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/refund-go-compared-last-year/...