Confused by different total tax amounts between IRS calculator and tax software - why do they disagree?

The difference you're seeing likely comes from how each system is calculating your taxable income. Let me explain what might be happening: The IRS calculator is probably applying the standard deduction correctly, while H&R Block might be using different adjustments or deductions that are reducing your refund. With income around $127,850 plus interest income, you're in the 24% tax bracket, but remember that's just your marginal rate - not what you pay on all income. One big thing to check is if H&R Block is calculating any additional taxes beyond just income tax. For example, if you have investment income or certain types of interest, there might be additional taxes applied that the basic IRS calculator doesn't include. Also verify that both systems are accounting for the exact same information. Sometimes the IRS calculator makes simplified assumptions, while tax software does a more detailed calculation with all the specific line items from your forms.

I had a similar issue last year and discovered that online calculators don't always capture everything. Check out https://taxr.ai - it actually analyzes your forms and gives you a detailed explanation of what's happening with your taxes. I was facing like a $1,500 difference between what TurboTax told me and what I thought I should be paying. Uploaded my docs to taxr.ai and it showed me EXACTLY where TurboTax was applying some weird additional tax because of how my employer reported a moving expense reimbursement. Would have never figured that out on my own!

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and WOW. Uploaded my W-2, 1099-INT and last year's return, and it immediately spotted the issue. H&R Block was calculating an additional self-employment tax on my interest income (which is completely wrong). The analysis showed exactly which line on my return had the error. I went back to H&R Block, made the correction, and now my refund matches what the IRS calculator showed! Saved me almost $2k! The breakdown was super clear - showed all the tax brackets, how much income fell into each one, and calculated the exact tax I should owe. Definitely recommend for anyone with discrepancies between different calculation methods.

If you're still confused after trying to figure it out yourself, calling the IRS directly can help. But we all know how impossible it is to get through to them... I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) last month when I had a similar issue with contradicting tax amounts. Their service gets you through to an actual IRS agent in minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. I was skeptical, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent explained the calculation difference was because my software wasn't correctly applying a tax credit I qualified for. Saved me over $1,200 and a ton of stress!

I need to publicly eat my words here. After dismissing Claimyr as a probable scam, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about my situation (similar to OP with different tax calculators showing wildly different amounts). Decided to try it as a last resort. Not only did it work, but I was connected to an IRS agent in 17 minutes after struggling for WEEKS to get through on my own. The agent walked me through my return line by line and found that my tax software was incorrectly calculating a credit phase-out based on my AGI. Turns out the $2,300 difference I was seeing was legitimate - I was owed that money! Already filed an amended return and tracking my refund. Consider me completely shocked that this service delivered exactly what it promised.

One thing to check is whether you're comparing the same tax year calculations. Tax brackets and standard deductions change yearly, so make sure both systems are calculating for the same tax year. Also, double-check your filing status in both systems - if one has you as "single" and the other accidentally has "head of household," that would cause a big difference.

Check if the H&R Block software is including any state income tax calculations in that total. Sometimes the "amount you owe" includes both federal and state payments combined, which would explain the discrepancy if the IRS calculator is only showing federal tax.

I've been through this exact scenario and it's incredibly frustrating! A few things to check that might explain the discrepancy: 1. **Double-check your AGI calculation** - You mentioned the IRS calculator shows your AGI as $99,750, but with wages of $127,850 + interest of $2,415, your AGI should be around $130,265 (unless there are other deductions reducing it). Make sure you're entering the same numbers in both systems. 2. **Standard deduction application** - For 2024, the standard deduction for single filers is $14,600. With your income around $130K, your taxable income should be roughly $115K, which would put you in the 24% marginal bracket but your effective rate would be much lower. 3. **Look for hidden fees or taxes** - H&R Block might be adding preparation fees, state taxes, or other charges to your "total amount due." Make sure you're comparing just the federal income tax calculation, not the total bill. 4. **Check for phantom deductions** - Sometimes tax software applies deductions you don't actually qualify for, then removes them later in the process, causing confusion. The IRS calculator is generally more reliable for basic situations like yours. I'd trust it over H&R Block, especially since your instinct about the numbers makes sense. With slightly higher income this year and proper withholding, you should indeed be getting a refund.

One more thing to consider - make sure you're looking at the right line on your tax forms when comparing calculations. The "total tax" should be what's on line 24 of Form 1040, which is your actual federal income tax liability before any withholding or payments are applied. Sometimes people accidentally compare their "amount owed" (which is total tax minus withholding) with their actual tax liability, creating confusion. With your income level around $130K and proper withholding of over $20K, you should definitely be getting a refund if your actual tax liability is in the $18K-$19K range like the IRS calculator suggests. Also, if you're still getting different results after double-checking your entries, try using a third calculator like the one on TaxAct or FreeTaxUSA just to get another data point. If two out of three calculators agree, you'll have more confidence in the correct amount.

I see you're dealing with a really frustrating discrepancy! As someone who's been through similar tax confusion, here are a few additional things that might help: **Check for duplicate entries** - Sometimes tax software accidentally double-counts income or deductions. Make sure your W-2 wages and 1099-INT interest aren't being entered multiple times in H&R Block. **Look at the actual tax calculation breakdown** - In H&R Block, there should be a detailed view showing exactly how they calculated your tax. Look for the step-by-step breakdown: Total Income → AGI → Taxable Income → Tax Before Credits → Final Tax. Compare each step to what the IRS calculator shows. **Verify your withholding amount** - Double-check that you're entering the exact amount from Box 2 of your W-2 ($20,175) in both systems. A small typo here could throw everything off. Given your income level and withholding amount, the IRS calculator result makes much more sense. With around $130K total income, roughly $115K taxable income after standard deduction, your federal tax should indeed be in the $18K-$19K range. Getting a refund with over $20K withheld is exactly what I'd expect. I'd recommend completing the return with a different software (like FreeTaxUSA) as a third comparison point before filing. The pattern should become clear when you see which calculation is the outlier.