Why was W2s tax not refunded?

[exchange17]

Last year all of our withholding was refunded as we did not have to pay any tax. This year it looks like the SS withholding is being refunded but not W2s. The SS was over what it was last year and some is being taxed.

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

Because you had taxable income. If you are below the filing requirements or you have enough deductions and credit to bring your income to zero, you get a refund of all your withholding. That is not what most taxpayers experience. The withholding is done to pay your taxes throughout the year. If there were no taxes to be paid, there would be no reason to withhold the tax in the first place.

A calculation is done by filling out the return. If you paid more in than the tax liability, you get a refund. If you paid too little in to cover the tax, you owe at the end of the year.