Trying to understand why our return this year is so much less than last year.

[pdmytriw]

We paid an entire year (2016) in daycare costs for our son, compared to only 3 months worth in 2015. Overall income did go up, but didn't think it went up enough to offset childcare costs.

[WillK]

There are several factors that go in to determining the taxes an individual owes. 

Your income could have increased which might have:

• Put you in a higher tax bracket, 

• It could have reduced or eliminated some deductions or credits

• The tax laws changing year to year will determine the amount of taxes that need to be paid as well. 

If your income decreased that sometimes can reduce your refund due to you not having enough earned income to receive the deductions or credits you did before. 

To see what had changed between last year and this year, please print off your 2015 and 2016 return and compare them. This will help you determine what has changed. 

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