Why does being a full time student make my tax refund go down by so much?

[raquellval]

I got prompted to a question that said "Were you a full time student for at least 5 months in 2021?", I was, so I selected yes, and my refund went down by almost 300 dollars, why is this?

[Mike9241]

we can't see your return.  

suggested that you review your return line by line with the box checked and unchecked.

then if you tell us what line change we can provide an explanation.

[raquellval]

It is on the EITC stage. I had more income on 2019 so I qualify for a tax credit. when I select what kind of income I want to use, I use the 2019 one, then I get asked if I was a full time student in 2021, when I select yes, my refund goes from 300 dollars to 31 dollars. That is all. If I go to the EITC part and do it all over again, it says I don't qualify for it and takes me back to the overview, so I can't even correct it.

[Critter-3]

If you are a full time student and under the age of 24 you cannot get the EIC  (or the saver's credit form 8880)  even if you will not be claimed by your parents. 

[raquellval]

I started over, selected that I don't want to check if I qualify for EITC, then prompted me to the same question of being a student in 2021 (Which was asked in the beginning when I started my taxes btw), I select yes, then it goes all the way down to 30$ again. I am very confused.

[Rainman12]

I think Critter3 precisely answered your question. Full time students under 24 simply do Not qualify for certain credits.

[raquellval]

I understand that, but it still prompts me to it, and I can't finish my taxes without reviewing it. I can't seem to skip it

Edit:

Okay so I was not understanding what this credit is. So, when I start my taxes, it is "implied" that I qualify for the credit, so the credit is already there in my (in progress) federal refund. That is why it is 300 dollars? Then at the end they ask me the implied, and I don't get the credit if I am a student. That is why the refund is 31 after the question, right?

[Critter-3]

Correct ... the program assumes you qualify for the credits so they are reflected in the Refund Meter and when you finally get to the credits section and answer the qualifying questions the disallowed credits are removed ... not the most user friendly way of doing things but that is the way the program is set up.  Be aware the amount in the refund meter is only correct when you have completed the entire interview process and have passed the REVIEW tab ... until that point the amount will vary.  

[cham567]

Was this problem ever figured out?  I was having the same problem and it dropped my return meter $940.  

[MarilynG1]

If you received a 1098-T from your school, look at the amount in Box 1, Tuition.  Look at the Box 5,  Scholarships.

Subtract Scholarships from Tuition.  That is the amount of Education Expenses you have to qualify for an Education Credit.

If your Box 5 is larger than your Box 1, you have Taxable Scholarship Income, which would make your refund go down. 

Since we can't see your return in this forum, please post again if you need more help.

Click this link for more info on Why didn't I get a credit or deduction for education expenses?