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My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

Why is my Refund lower than I was told?
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8 Replies

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

Why is my refund different than the amount on the tax return I filed? (updated 2/5/2021)

All or part of your refund, including any amount for the Recovery Rebate Credit, may have been used (offset) to pay off past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or other federal nontax debts, such as student loans. To find out if you may have an offset or if you have questions about an offset, contact the agency to which you owe the debt.

We also may have changed your refund amount because we made changes to your tax return. This may include corrections to any incorrect Recovery Rebate Credit amount. You’ll get a notice explaining the changes. Where’s My Refund? will reflect the reasons for the refund offset when it relates to a change in your tax return.

Tax Topic 203, Refund Offsets for Unpaid Child Support, Certain Federal and State Debts, and Unemplo... has more information about refund offsets.

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

Why is my refund amount lower than expected 

ChondelLO
Intuit Alumni

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

In this public forum we cannot diagnose why your refund has been reduced. For additional information, please visit the Help Article below or this TurboTax blog. @Donaldparrish

 

Why is my direct-deposited refund or check lower than the ...

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My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

20220228_184039.jpg

Why is my refund lower 

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

Only the IRS can answer that, so watch for a letter in the mail from them in 2-4 weeks.

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

How do I get in touch with the IRS

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

21 days is just an estimate.  The IRS is taking much longer this year.

 

If your return was Accepted or mailed then check IRS Where's my refund
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/

When will you get your refund?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/when-will-i-get-my-irs-tax-refund/01/25589

IRS - Questions about Refunds
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

 

My Refund Amount is Lower than expected! Why?

@Donaldparrish You posted to a thread that is about refunds lower than expected, but provided no details.

 

 

 

 

TurboTax does not get any information from the IRS after you file your tax return, so no one at TT knows why your refund was less.

 

You have not mentioned any specific amounts.  Sometimes we can make an educated guess as to the reason for your reduced refund if you mention specific amounts--for example if your refund was short by $1400 per person---it is likely to be a mix up regarding the 3rd EIP payment.    If you received the 3rd stimulus check of $1400 per person in 2021 then you got letter 6475 from the IRS about it.   You needed to enter the amount you received.   If you already received that money then line 30 on your Form 1040 should have been blank.

 

 

 

 

  If it is short by $1800 or  $1500 or  a multiple of that amount  ---   maybe a mixup regarding the advance child tax credit payments. If you received monthly child tax credit payments of $250 or $300 per month between July and December of 2021, then you got letter 6419 from the IRS, and you were required to enter the amount of the advance payments.   Only the remaining amount of the CTC should have been on line 28 of your Form 1040.

 

The IRS knows how much they sent to you for the 3rd stimulus check and they know how much they sent for advance child tax credit payments.   If you answered something incorrectly on your tax return then the IRS made a correction that resulted in a reduced refund for you. 

 

 

 

 Or---the fees you were supposed to pay for using TurboTax + the "refund processing fee" charged by the third party bank….

Did you choose to have TT fees deducted from your Federal refund?  (Remember that if you did that, you also agreed to an extra refund processing fee of $39.99 or $44.99 in CA)

How can I see my TurboTax  fees?   

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565973-how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online

 

What is Refund Processing Service?

 

 

The IRS will send you a letter that explains why your refund was reduced.   Meanwhile it might help you to check your online IRS account.

 

 

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

 

 

https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-refunds/why-is-my-tax-refund-not-what-i-expected-49240/

 

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-round-economic-impact-payment-top...

 

If you need to trace a payment that the IRS says has been issued to you, mail or fax a completed IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.

 

 

 

Updated IRS FAQ about recovery rebate credit

https://www.irs.gov/pub/taxpros/fs-2022-27.pdf

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
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