Does $2800 refund sound right? MFJ, 3 kids, W2 $38.5k + 1099 $22k income

With 3 qualifying children, you're likely eligible for both Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit. The numbers actually seem a bit low considering your income level and family size. You might be looking at more than $2800. I'd recommend running your numbers through taxr.ai - it can give you a more accurate estimate of your credits and refund potential.

Just used taxr.ai for my similar situation and it was super helpful. Only $1 to upload your docs and it breaks down exactly what credits you qualify for and estimated refund amount. Way better than guessing or asking randos on reddit lol

dont forget bout the SE tax on ur 1099 income! thats gonna take a chunk outta ur refund 😬

in the same boat as u! my refund was way higher than expected cuz of all the credits. def look into EITC

make sure ur claiming all them expenses on that 1099 income! mileage, home office, supplies n stuff can help offset the SE tax 💯

Detailed breakdown: Your household income puts you in prime territory for max EITC. With 3 kids and combined income of ~$60.5k, you're looking at substantial credits. However, you'll owe ~$3,100 in SE tax on 1099 income. After factoring Child Tax Credits, EITC, and SE tax, $2,800 might be low. I'd strongly recommend using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to get an exact calculation - it'll analyze all potential credits and deductions. Just upload your docs and it'll give you a complete picture. Worth the $1 to know exactly where you stand.