Why am I getting so much on my tax return?
Returns are larger on average this year after the IRS adjusted certain tax provisions to offset inflation. The standard deduction was increased by a historically high 7% for 2023 tax returns.
But this year, some taxpayers are receiving bigger refunds after the IRS adjusted many of its provisions for inflation, pushing the standard deduction and tax brackets about 7% higher for the 2023 tax year, which is the period for which taxpayers are now filing their taxes.
However, the size of the refund you receive depends on a wide range of factors. Things like how much money you earned, how much you paid into taxes and what expenses you faced throughout the year all play a role. Moreover, if you're a homeowner, you may be able to increase your tax return even further.
Tax refunds for some taxpayers may be bigger in 2024 thanks to the inflation adjustments the Internal Revenue Service made to tax brackets implemented in 2023, along with increased standard deductions. Each year, the IRS adjusts income tax brackets according to a formula set by Congress to account for inflation.
Different income tax brackets apply depending on how much money you make. Generally speaking, a higher percentage is typically taken out of your paycheck if you earn a higher level of income.
Is getting a big tax refund a good thing? No, some financial experts and taxpayers say, because it means you're giving up too much of your paycheck to taxes during the year. If less is taken out for taxes, you'll get a smaller refund but more money in each paycheck for expenses or saving and investing, they argue.
IRS refund over $10,000: who is eligible and how to apply
Individuals who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) may be able to receive a refund of more than $10,000.
Ramon Christopher Blanchett, of Tampa, Florida, and self-described freelancer, managed to scoop up a $980,000 tax refund after submitting his self-prepared 2016 tax return. He also allegedly claimed that he earned a total of $18,497 in wages — and that he had withheld $1 million in income taxes, according to a Jan.
- Have worked and earned income under $63,398.
- Have investment income below $11,000 in the tax year 2023.
- Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions)
You may be in line for a smaller tax refund this year if your income rose in 2023. Earning a lot of interest in a bank account could also lead to a smaller refund. A smaller refund isn't necessarily terrible, since it means you got paid sooner rather than loaning the IRS money for no good reason.
Is it better to claim 1 or 0 on your taxes?
By placing a “0” on line 5, you are indicating that you want the most amount of tax taken out of your pay each pay period. If you wish to claim 1 for yourself instead, then less tax is taken out of your pay each pay period. 2.
| Income level | Average refund | % of income |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 to $49,999 | $2,845.81 | 5.7% to 11.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | $2,830.10 | 3.8% to 5.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | $3,347.69 | 3.3% to 4.5% |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | $4,436.36 | 2.2% to 4.4% |
If you make $60,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $13,653. That means that your net pay will be $46,347 per year, or $3,862 per month.
You can increase the amount of your tax refund by decreasing your taxable income and taking advantage of tax credits. Working with a financial advisor and tax professional can help you make the most of deductions and credits you're eligible for.
If you claimed 0 and still owe taxes, chances are you added “married” to your W4 form. When you claim 0 in allowances, it seems as if you are the only one who earns and that your spouse does not. Then, when both of you earn, and the amount reaches the 25% tax bracket, the amount of tax sent is not enough.
Common reasons for owing taxes include insufficient withholding, extra income, self-employment tax, life changes, and tax code changes.
Here are just some of the factors: Are your friends/co-workers/neighbors having a lot of tax withheld from their paychecks all year? And are you have much less withheld? The biggest factor in determining a refund amount is how much you've paid in over the course of the year.
If you'd rather have a bigger paycheck and a smaller refund, you can control this. All you have to do is submit a new Form W-4 to your employer to adjust your federal income tax withholding.
| Rank | State | Average refund |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Nevada | $4,884 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $4,877 |
| 8 | Texas | $4,753 |
| 9 | California | $4,671 |
If you owe money to a federal or state agency, the federal government may use part or all of your federal tax refund to repay the debt. This is called a tax refund offset. If your tax refund is lower than you calculated, it may be due to a tax refund offset for an unpaid debt such as child support.
What is the average tax return for 2024?
Since the start of the January tax season, the IRS has delivered more than $200 billion in refunds through early April. The average refund was $3,011, a 4.6% increase from last April's average of $2,878.
Because of that, workers whose pay didn't keep up with last year's high inflation are on track to get bigger tax refunds, with some likely to receive up to 10% more in 2024, Jackson Hewitt chief tax information officer Mark Steber told CBS MoneyWatch earlier this year.
If you make $20,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $2,687. That means that your net pay will be $17,313 per year, or $1,443 per month.
Keep in mind there's no limit to the size of a tax refund. You can even get a bigger tax refund than what you already paid in taxes.
The California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home. The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1st.
