PANIC about taxes owed calculations

I have a fed tax owed number, for 2024, from my paid preparer that seems inaccurate. On a taxable income of $38,934 he shows that my tax is $1289, before any credits?

I have checked my return for 2023, and it was similar, he showed on taxable income of $35,740 , that the tax before credits is $1,008.

I have used the preparer for 35 yrs, and have trusted him, yet when I mentioned this to my friend who does his own taxes, he says that sounds really wrong. I used some online tax calculators and it DOES seem that the calculations are wrong.

What do you think? Am I missing something?

Thankyou for any help!

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