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New Member
posted Feb 20, 2020 4:40:50 AM

What should I do if my federal return is short. Specifically $200

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3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 20, 2020 5:20:15 AM

Please read the three explanations below if your refund is less than what was originally reported:

 

1. If your IRS-issued tax refund comes in around $35 or $40 less than the amount shown in TurboTax, it's probably because you used the Pay With My Refund service to pay your TurboTax fees. There's a separate processing fee for this service, which is deducted from your federal refund in addition to your TurboTax fees.

 

2. Other missing dollar amounts may be caused by a refund offset. This is when the government applies part or all of a taxpayer's refund towards the taxpayer's past-due income tax, child or spousal support, student loans, or state unemployment compensation debts.

 

  • If this happens, you should get a letter from the government explaining why you didn't get the entire refund. You can also get this information by looking up your refund at the IRS Where's My Refund page. 

 

3. Finally, the government may have made a correction to your tax return, resulting in a lower (or higher!) than anticipated refund. Again, you'll get an official explanatory letter when this happens.

 

Related Information:

Returning Member
Mar 9, 2021 9:54:08 AM

I have already gotten up the IRS there is no reason for them to take money from my taxes my original taxes were 7:45 my fees for TurboTax or $220 out of the 7:45 which left me with 560 and when it got deposited into my account there was only $330 where is my money

 

Expert Alumni
Mar 9, 2021 11:26:57 AM

You should order a transcript of your account for 2020.  Use this link to get to the IRS page.  IRS Transcript.  This will provide full disclosure on how IRS treated your refund and if they made any adjustments to your expected refund amount.

 

TurboTax does not issue refunds.  When you entered and filed your return directly to the IRS the IRS processed your return and issued your refund.  Now if you paid TurboTax from your refund, that happens when the refund is sent to the bank to be sent to you and payment to TurboTax.