Don't forget to check for any garnishments! Sounds weird but sometimes if you have an unpaid ticket or something that went to collections, they can garnish wages without you realizing.

As someone who's dealt with payroll discrepancies before, I'd definitely recommend starting with the FICA tax angle that Oliver mentioned - that $200 difference sounds like it could be exactly that 7.65% withholding if you're exempt as an F-1 student. But here's another angle to consider: check if your employer used a different pay period calculation than you expected. Sometimes summer jobs will show gross pay that includes partial weeks or overlapping pay periods that can make the math seem off when you're just adding up what hit your bank account. Also, don't overlook state-specific deductions. Some states have disability insurance, transit taxes, or other mandatory withholdings that might not be clearly labeled on your W2 but would show up in your gross-to-net calculation. The good news is that as an international student, you're actually in a better position than most to get this resolved because there are specific IRS guidelines about what can and can't be deducted from your pay. Document everything and don't be afraid to push back if something seems wrong - employers make mistakes with international student payroll more often than they'd like to admit.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I checked the years and they match, so that's not the issue. I'm going to try taxr.ai first to see if I can figure out what's causing the discrepancy without having to call the IRS. If that doesn't clarify things, I'll probably use Claimyr to talk to an agent directly. I did notice that Credit Karma was asking about some education expenses that I didn't claim on my original return, so maybe that's part of the difference. Will update when I figure it out!

Great approach! Education expenses are definitely one of the most common sources of discrepancies between tax calculators and actual filed returns. The American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit can add up to significant refund amounts, but they have specific eligibility requirements that calculators sometimes overlook. Even if you paid for education expenses, you might not qualify for the credits if your income is above certain thresholds, or if you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, or if the school/program doesn't qualify. The calculators often assume you're eligible without checking these details. Keep us posted on what you find with taxr.ai - it'll be helpful for others in similar situations to know what the actual cause was!

Don't forget that many state tax agencies offer free assistance for these kinds of questions. I had a similar ITIN issue and was able to get help by visiting my state's taxpayer assistance center in person. The wait was about an hour, but they walked me through exactly how to handle the extension with a pending ITIN application. Sometimes talking to a real person who knows your state's specific requirements is the best way to go, especially for unusual situations like this one.

I just want to add that if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the different state requirements, don't panic! The key thing to remember is that filing a state extension is usually much simpler than it seems, and the penalties for getting it slightly wrong are typically much less severe than missing the deadline entirely. Since you already filed your federal return, you're ahead of the game. Most states are pretty understanding about ITIN situations since they're becoming more common. The main thing is to file SOMETHING by the deadline - even if it's not perfect, it shows good faith effort to comply. Also, keep detailed records of everything you submit. Take screenshots of online filings, keep copies of forms, and note down confirmation numbers. This documentation will be helpful if any questions come up later when you file your actual return with the completed ITIN. You've got this - the fact that you're asking these questions now instead of waiting until the last minute shows you're being responsible about the process!

Has anyone actually compared the tax brackets from last year to this year? I heard they adjusted for inflation but not sure if that would cause such a big refund difference??

I went through something similar last year and it's really frustrating when you're expecting a certain amount! One thing that might help is to look at your actual tax liability from both years rather than just the refund amount. Your refund is essentially how much you overpaid in taxes through withholding minus what you actually owe. So if your tax liability went up (due to the DoorDash income and losing education credits as others mentioned), but your withholding stayed roughly the same, that would directly reduce your refund. The DoorDash income is particularly tricky because not only does it increase your regular income tax, but you also owe that 15.3% self-employment tax on it. For next year, you might want to make quarterly estimated tax payments if you continue doing gig work, or adjust your W-4 to have more withheld from your regular job to cover the additional tax from side income. This way you won't get hit with a surprise smaller refund (or potentially owe money) again.

Make sure you're also aware of the credit limitations! I made a mistake with this last year. You can't claim both the Lifetime Learning Credit AND the American Opportunity Credit for the SAME student in the SAME year. You have to pick one. For most people who qualify for both, the American Opportunity Credit is usually better because the maximum credit is $2,500 compared to $2,000 for the Lifetime Learning Credit. But as others mentioned, AOTC is only for the first 4 years of post-secondary education.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! As an F-1 student who became a resident alien for tax purposes, you're absolutely eligible for education credits. The key thing to understand is that once you pass the substantial presence test (which you clearly have after being here since 2016), your visa status doesn't matter for most tax benefits - you're treated just like a US citizen. Since you're in your 7th year, you'll likely need to go with the Lifetime Learning Credit rather than the American Opportunity Credit. The LLC covers up to $2,000 per year (20% of the first $10,000 in qualified expenses) and there's no limit on how many years you can claim it. One thing I wish I had known earlier - make sure you're only claiming qualified tuition and required fees from your 1098-T. Don't include things like room and board, health fees, or parking fees as those aren't eligible expenses. Also, if you received any scholarships or grants, you'll need to subtract those from your qualified expenses. The income limits are definitely something to watch out for too. As a single filer, the credit starts phasing out at $80,000 MAGI and completely disappears at $90,000. But if you're a typical student, you're probably well below those thresholds. My advice? Go ahead and claim it if you qualify - you've been paying into the system as a resident alien, so you deserve the same benefits!