HOH with 3 Dependents - $10,757 Refund in Washington State - Does This Seem Right?

That refund amount is definitely within the realm of possibility for your filing status and dependent count. The Enhanced Child Tax Credit for TY2023 provides $2,000 per qualifying child, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can be substantial for HOH filers with multiple dependents. Additionally, your Marginal Tax Rate as HOH is lower than MFJ or Single, creating favorable Effective Tax Rate calculations. Washington state also has no state income tax, which eliminates potential offsets that might reduce federal refund amounts.

That amt seems high tbh. Did u have a lot of w/h from ur paychecks? Or maybe qualifying for EITC + CTC + other credits? Might wanna double check ur income entered correctly and that all 3 dependents pass the qualifying tests. Sometimes ppl accidentally claim dependents that don't meet all the tests and end up w/ a nasty surprise later.

Isn't it interesting how our tax system works? I'm actually the original poster, and I wanted to add that I earned about $38,000 last year working in healthcare. My ex wasn't very involved financially after we separated, so I've been supporting the kids mostly on my own. Could that be why I'm getting such a large refund? And does anyone know how long it typically takes to receive a refund of this size?

I'm SO HAPPY for you getting this refund! This is exactly what the tax code is designed to do - help parents who are supporting children on their own. The amount sounds right based on your filing status, dependents, and income level. If you're worried about delays though (the IRS often gives extra scrutiny to returns with EITC), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to an IRS agent quickly if your refund gets stuck. I used it when my refund was delayed last year and got connected to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. It was worth it to confirm everything was processing correctly!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation and need to file soon... may I ask if you provided any special documentation for your dependents? I'm a bit concerned about potential delays since I believe the IRS might review returns with larger refunds more carefully.

Your refund is about twice what I got as a single parent with 2 kids in Oregon, but I make around $55k which probably puts me in a different tax bracket. The refundable credits phase out as your income increases, so if you're making less than me, your larger refund makes sense. The tax code is like a roller coaster - the same family structure can have wildly different outcomes depending on income level.

I see a lot of confusion about big refunds like this. According to the IRS.gov calculator, a HOH filer with 3 qualifying children earning between $35k-$42k can absolutely get a refund in the $10k range. I'd recommend checking your return on https://taxr.ai which can analyze your specific situation and explain exactly why your refund is what it is. They break down all the credits and deductions in plain English so you understand where every dollar is coming from.

Per IRC §32(b), the maximum EITC for a taxpayer with three qualifying children for tax year 2023 is $7,430. Combined with $2,000 per child under the Child Tax Credit as stipulated in IRC §24, that's $6,000 in child-related credits. Add potential overwithholding from your W-2 employment, and $10,757 is entirely reasonable. The PATH Act requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming EITC until at least February 15th, but processing typically completes within 21 days after that statutory hold period.

Got a similar refund. Three kids too. Filed HOH. Was shocked. Called tax preparer. They confirmed it was right. My income was $36k. Got my direct deposit in 16 days. No issues at all.