What am I missing on our 2025 refund, since we're 75 years old?

[badknee_1]

My wife and I are both 75. Following some suggestions, I tried to go in and look on the "Forms" page. It looks like it IS including the extra $12,000... but I'm still not understanding why our refund is only about $1,000 more than in 2024. I just thought the extra deduction due to our age would have meant a larger refund.

I've had two brain surgeries - benign, thankfully - so my mind doesn't work correctly at times. We get a little pension from our teaching and social security, so it's not a complex return. I'm just not understanding why our return isn't more. I'm ready to submit it. Our income for 2025 was $86,847, including our social security and the retirement income from our teaching. In 2024, our income was $89,436 from the same sources.

What am I missing???  THANKS!!!

[MinhT1 · Accepted solution]

The senior additional deduction of $12,000 is a deduction which helps lower your taxable income. It is not a tax credit which could increase your refund dollar for dollar.

Your tax refund is not at all proportional to your income. It depends on your income, your deductions and other tax credits, your tax liability and the amount of tax withheld.

An increase of $1,000 in your refund this year looks quite plausible.

[badknee_1]

THANKS!!! Even my screwed up mind can understand your answer. (I used to be smart... I have a PhD. But after 30+surgeries, including two brain surgeries... my mind just doesn't work well most of the time.

I REALLY appreciate your answer.

Take care. Hope 2026 is an AWESOME year for you.