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I got a dollar or two raise, and somehow I am getting 300$ less on my returns than usual. Is this normal?

 
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2 Replies

I got a dollar or two raise, and somehow I am getting 300$ less on my returns than usual. Is this normal?

More income = more tax

 

We cannot see your screen, your return or your account.  Have you entered ALL of your 2019 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.

 

 

No one in this user forum can see your tax return or your screen.  There were major tax law changes that began with the 2018 tax year that seem to continue to surprise some people.  Personal exemptions of over $4000 per person were removed beginning with 2018 returns.

One thing that may be affecting your refund is that employers began withholding less tax when the new tax law passed.  Your paychecks were more, but that means a smaller refund now. 

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/questions/1901008-why-did-my-refund-go-down-compared-to-last-year-s

 

https://www.postbulletin.com/news/business/tax-preparers-warn-your-refund-may-be-smaller-than-usual/...

**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.**
GiseleD
Expert Alumni

I got a dollar or two raise, and somehow I am getting 300$ less on my returns than usual. Is this normal?

It's possible that your raise contributed to the reduction in your return. 

 

For example, if you worked full-time (40 hours per week) just 48 weeks out of the year, a dollar raise would equate to an extra $1920 in income (40 hours per week * one dollar per hour * 48 weeks). Other factors, such as tax brackets, credit phaseouts, etc., may also play a part. 

 

If you are looking for a larger refund, you may consider adjusting your withholding here

 

 

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