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New Member
posted Feb 16, 2026 3:28:10 PM

Sudden drop in refund amount with no changes from me!

I have used Turbo Tax for years. I worked on my 2025 taxes today and went through the entire process of inputting all the data for income and deductions and credits. My refund showed about $6600 due to me. However, when I got to the end to the review and file phase, it suddenly changed the number on me with no change in any of the data inputted by me to about $4900, $1700 less than what I was expecting. When I check the transmission to the IRS, sure enough, it has the lower number on it as well. I am so pissed as I even made an extra IRA contribution today to increase my return only to now find it is much less than what was anticipated. I am fuming and do not know what to do next. 

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1 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Feb 17, 2026 8:05:22 AM

$1,700 is the refundable amount of the Child Tax Credit which provides up to $2,200 per qualifying child aged 16 or younger, with up to $1,700 of that amount being refundable.

 

Will your tax return report dependents who will qualify for the Child Tax Credit?  Please clarify.

 

The Child Tax Credit will be reported on IRS Schedule 8812 Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents.  The computation of the $1,700 refundable amount takes place on page 2 Part II-A.

 

You may print or view your full tax returns prior to filing after you have paid for the software. 

 

  • View the entries down the left side of the screen at Tax Tools.
  • Select Print Center.
  • Select Print, save or preview this year's return.