Why did my refund go down so much after putting in my unemployment?

Unemployment comp is taxable, but you may not have had anything withheld from it. Also, any increase in income can lower or eliminate some deductions/credits.

Hello, @SweetieJean 

Can you be more specific?

Thank you,

Teresa M. 

As an example, EIC is calculated on both (1) earned income and (2) AGI. You then get the lesser of the two.  In addition, it is calculated on a "bell curve." That is, it goes up as your income goes up to a certain point, but then starts to come down after.

Also, as your income goes up, you can move into a higher tax bracket. As for Unemployment Comp, typically there is either 10% withholding on it or none at all.  But if your actual tax rate on your total income is more than 10%, it "eats away" (reduces)  at the refund that was there before you entered the Unemployment Comp.