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The Daily Insight

Why is my tax refund always so low?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Feb 09, 2026

Due to withholding changes in early 2018, some taxpayers began receiving larger paychecks, meaning they were paying less in tax as the year went on. For those taxpayers, that change could result in a smaller tax refund than expected—even if they paid less in tax overall.

Why is my return less this year?

Scenario 2 – Too Few Withholdings Getting a small tax refund because of too few tax withholdings is actually a good problem to have. It means that you have your withholding properly matched to your income. The more exemptions you take, the less tax your employer will take from your paycheck throughout the year.

Why is my 2020 refund so low Reddit?

Refunds being low isn’t inherently an issue. Your refund is just the difference between what you withheld throughout the year, and what you actually owe. A small refund actually means your withholdings throughout the year were correct.

Why is my tax return so low this year?

The more exemptions you take, the less tax your employer will take from your paycheck throughout the year. Increasing your deductions decreases your tax withholding and increases the amount of your weekly paycheck. This puts more money in your pocket during the year, but it does so by reducing your tax refund later.

Why is my tax return so low picnic?

Picnic’s goal is to make tax filing simpler and painless for everyday Americans. So you went the DIY route and your tax refund is lower than you expected. Your first step is likely to verify that the information you entered into your tax software is correct.

Why is my tax refund so low in 2021?

If you‘re questioning “Why is my tax refund so low in 2021?” There’s a reason for it. It’s the combination of several changes that will affect your overall outcome, including the tax impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Read on and we’ll discuss the potential reasons why your tax refund may be so low in 2020 (and 2021).