Made $27k with only $28 withheld for Federal - Getting $10k refund? Can't be right?

This is actually possible. You need to act fast. Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per child. Earned Income Credit could be $6-7k with your income level. Your withholding doesn't matter for these refundable credits. They're designed for working families. The system is working as intended. File now before any changes happen.

I would double-check your entries before submitting if you haven't already. As of March 5, 2024, the IRS is flagging returns with unusual refund amounts for additional review. Did you correctly enter all your W-2 information? Sometimes people accidentally enter their income as withholding or vice versa. Also, verify you entered the correct ages for your dependents as this affects credit amounts.

This happened to me last year - I had very little withheld but got a huge refund because of my kids. The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit are designed to help families with children, especially at lower income levels. I was shocked too when I first saw it, but it's legitimate if your income is in that sweet spot where you qualify for maximum benefits.

It's like finding money in an old coat pocket - seems too good to be true, but it's yours. If you're worried the IRS might flag this for review (they often do with large refunds), you might want to have a professional conversation with them. I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) last tax season when I had a similar situation. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, they got me through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed everything was legitimate.

I'm somewhat skeptical about this refund amount. While it's technically possible with 4 dependents, there might be something off in your calculations. Most families with that income level and 4 kids would probably see around $7-8K maximum, unless there are additional credits I'm not considering. Did you perhaps qualify for additional credits like the American Opportunity Credit for education expenses?

According to IRS Publication 596, the maximum Earned Income Credit for 2023 with 3 or more qualifying children is $7,430 for those with income under $56,838 (married filing jointly). And per Section 24 of the tax code, the Child Tax Credit provides $2,000 per qualifying child. So mathematically, this refund amount could be legitimate if your income and family situation align with these parameters.

I've seen this many times over the years. Probably legitimate if your income falls in the EITC sweet spot. The system is designed to benefit working families with children. Your military status might also qualify you for additional benefits. Just be prepared for potential delays. The IRS often reviews returns with large refunds and minimal withholding.

Have you considered having a tax professional review your return before submitting? For something that seems unusual to you, wouldn't it be worth the peace of mind to have someone verify everything is correct? Many military bases offer free tax preparation services through VITA programs. They could confirm if this refund amount is accurate for your specific situation and explain exactly which credits are generating this refund.