Tax returns question - I make under $12,000 and paid $1,260 in taxes, am I eligible for refund and how much will I get back?
So I've been working part-time while in school and I only made about $11,800 last year. I noticed on my paystubs that I've already had $1,260 taken out for taxes throughout the year. This is my first time actually filing taxes on my own and I'm not sure if I'll get money back or what to expect. Am I eligible for tax returns with this income level? And if so, would I get the full $1,260 back that was already withheld from my paychecks? Also, I'm curious about timing - when do refunds usually arrive after filing? Just trying to plan ahead financially and figure out if it's even worth the hassle of filing if I don't get anything back. Thanks for any help!
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Annabel Kimball
You're actually in a good position! With income under $12,550 (the standard deduction for a single filer for 2025), you likely won't owe any federal income tax at all. This means you should get back most or all of the federal income tax that was withheld from your paychecks. The $1,260 that was taken out probably includes Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) as well as federal income tax. You won't get the FICA taxes back (that's about 7.65% of your income), but you should get the federal income tax portion refunded. Filing is definitely worth it for you! Not only to get your refund but also to potentially qualify for credits like the Earned Income Credit depending on your situation. Refunds typically arrive within 21 days if you e-file and choose direct deposit. Paper filing or getting a paper check can take 6-8 weeks.
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Chris Elmeda
•Thanks for explaining! Quick question - does this mean I need to file even if I'm below the filing requirement? And would I qualify for any tax credits at this income level that might give me even more back?
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Annabel Kimball
•You're not technically required to file if you're below the filing threshold, but you should absolutely file to get your withheld federal income tax back. The IRS doesn't automatically refund overwithholding if you don't file. For tax credits, you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit even at your income level, especially if you're over 25 or have qualifying children. There's also education credits like the American Opportunity Credit if you're paying for college expenses. These credits could potentially give you back more than just your withheld taxes.
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Jean Claude
I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I was freaking out about taxes until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a total lifesaver. I uploaded my W-2 and it instantly showed me I'd get most of my withholding back since my income was under the standard deduction. The tool analyzed my specific situation and confirmed I was getting back about 75% of what was withheld since some was for Social Security/Medicare that you don't get back. It also checked if I qualified for any credits like EITC. Super straightforward and took like 5 minutes.
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Charity Cohan
•Does it actually file your taxes for you or just tell you what you'd get back? I'm always nervous about missing something that could get me in trouble with the IRS.
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Josef Tearle
•I'm skeptical about these tax tools. How does taxr.ai compare to just using free filing through IRS Free File or something like FreeTaxUSA? Do they charge for the service?
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Jean Claude
•It doesn't file for you - it analyzes your tax documents and situation to show what you can expect. It's more like having a tax professional look over everything before you file. I still filed through one of the free options afterward. For comparing to other free options, I tried FreeTaxUSA first but felt lost with all the questions. With taxr.ai, I got personalized guidance based on my specific documents and situation. They focus on making sure you understand what's happening rather than just filling out forms. And they don't push upgrades for simple situations like yours.
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Josef Tearle
Just wanted to follow up about my taxr.ai experience. I decided to try it after posting here and was honestly impressed. I uploaded my W-2 and it immediately identified that I'd get back about $850 of my withholding (the rest was FICA taxes). It explained everything in super simple terms and even suggested I could qualify for the Saver's Credit since I had made a small contribution to a retirement account. Had no idea about that! I used their guidance and filed through IRS Free File afterward. Already got my refund direct deposited last week - exactly the amount taxr.ai predicted. Way easier than the tax nightmare I was expecting!
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Shelby Bauman
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Quinn Herbert
•Wait how does this actually work? Can't anyone just call the IRS phone number directly? Why would I need a service for that?
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Salim Nasir
•This sounds like a total scam. The IRS is impossible to reach no matter what. I've tried calling dozens of times and nobody can get through. There's no way some random service can magically get you to an agent.
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Shelby Bauman
•The IRS phone system is designed to be frustrating. They have limited agents and millions of callers, so they use busy signals and disconnects to manage call volume. Anyone can call directly, but most people get disconnected or face hours-long wait times. Claimyr uses technology to navigate the phone maze and wait on hold for you, then calls you once an agent is ready to talk. I was just as skeptical as you are. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through on my own with no luck. Claimyr had me talking to an actual IRS agent in minutes. They use a combination of automated systems and actual people to keep redialing when the IRS hangs up, monitoring hold times, and getting through the various prompts. It's basically like having someone dedicated to getting through the phone system for you.
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Salim Nasir
Ok I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate about my missing refund (was supposed to get $1700 back). I'd already called the IRS 9 times over 3 weeks and either got a busy signal or got disconnected after waiting on hold. Used Claimyr and seriously had an IRS agent on the phone within 7 minutes. SEVEN MINUTES! The agent found that there was a mismatch between my reported income and what my employer submitted. Fixed it while I was on the call and my refund was released immediately. Just got the deposit yesterday. Would've probably been waiting for months without getting through. Not gonna lie, I'm still shocked it actually worked.
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Hazel Garcia
Just to add some perspective on your timing question - if you file electronically with direct deposit, you'll typically get your refund in 1-3 weeks. The IRS has a "Where's My Refund" tool on their website where you can check the status. And yes, you should definitely file! Not only to get your federal income tax withholding back, but also to possibly get state tax back too, depending on where you live. Some states have even lower thresholds for tax-free income.
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Laila Fury
•I filed last week with similar income to OP and my refund was approved in 4 days! Already got the direct deposit. Do state refunds come separately or with federal?
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Hazel Garcia
•Great to hear your refund came so quickly! State refunds are processed separately from federal refunds, so they'll come as a separate deposit. State processing times vary significantly depending on which state you're in. Some states are pretty quick (1-2 weeks) while others can take a month or longer. Most states have their own "Where's My Refund" tool on their tax department websites where you can track the status of your state refund specifically.
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Geoff Richards
Would it be better to adjust your W-4 with your employer so they don't withhold as much in the first place? Seems like a waste to let the government hold onto your money interest-free all year.
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Simon White
•100% this. I adjusted my W-4 after being in the same situation. If you know you're under the standard deduction, you can claim "exempt" on your W-4 and have $0 federal income tax withheld. You'll still have FICA taxes taken out though.
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Yuki Sato
You're definitely in luck! With income under the standard deduction ($12,950 for single filers in 2024), you shouldn't owe any federal income tax. However, keep in mind that the $1,260 withheld likely includes both federal income tax AND FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare at 7.65%). You'll get back the federal income tax portion but not the FICA. Quick math: on $11,800 income, FICA would be about $902, so you might get back around $358 in federal income tax refund. But definitely file to claim it! Also consider if you qualify for any refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit - these could potentially give you back MORE than what was withheld. And next year, you might want to adjust your W-4 to reduce withholding since you're under the taxable threshold.
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