I am single, 22 yrs old, with one job, and I claim 0. I made $22,000.00 last year and paid about $2500-3000 in taxes BUT I only received about $400.00 back for my refund. Why did I get such a small refund? My and my fiancé make the same amount of money (rounded) except I pay more in taxes and he pays child support but he did not claim his child, and he files 0 too yet he received $2100.00 back for his refund! What am I doing wrong? Should I be filing 1 or something? Why is my tax return SO SMALL? Please help and any answers would be VERY helpful...

Could be any of a number of things.

Earnings with no withholding, like bank interest, dividends and capital gains can increase tax liability without a corresponding payment.

There are all sorts of tax credits for things like child care, college tuition and earned income credit. Sometimes you have to read IRS publication 17 or the long form's instructions if you aren't carefully following the "interview" of tax preparation software or a tax preparer.

All other things being equal the fiancé could have filed for fewer withholding allowances on the W4 filed with the employer or made estimated tax payments.

The government is probably laughing all the way to the bank with that big interest free loan the fiancé provided them. While it's nice to get that big check/deposit every spring, that refund money could have been sitting in the bank earning interest. IF your tax liability was calculated properly you made out MUCH better with your smaller refund.

Check to see if a professional would be willing to check your return. When I worked for a chain, we would calculate a customer's taxes without charge. Basically the "preparation" charges were applied when the customer wanted a copy of the prepared return OR to have us electronically file them.

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Originally Posted by hollikaye

I am single, 22 yrs old, with one job, and I claim 0. I made $22,000.00 last year and paid about $2500-3000 in taxes BUT I only received about $400.00 back for my refund. Why did I get such a small refund? My and my fiance make the same amount of money (rounded) except I pay more in taxes and he pays child support but he did not claim his child, and he files 0 too yet he received $2100.00 back for his refund! What am I doing wrong? Should I be filing 1 or something? Why is my tax return SO SMALL? please help and any answers would be VERY helpful......

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On the 2007 return for income of $22000, or single without dependent the federal tax is $1596. FICA taxes are $1683.

It appears that your fiancé did claim the child and received Child Tax credit of $1,000 and also received earned income credit.

Hollikaye:

Your tax liability should have been about $1,900, NOT $2,500 to $3,000.

Suggest you re-check your tax return calculations. If you made a mistake, amend the retun using Form 1040X.

If you need professional help, PM me or contact me at [email protected]