What happens if I file my federal taxes twice and the second one shows a bigger refund amount?

The IRS will definitely flag duplicate returns and this could potentially delay both refunds. When they detect multiple returns, they typically put both on hold while they review them. What you should do is file an amended return (Form 1040-X) rather than submitting a completely new return. This is specifically for correcting mistakes on an already-filed return. You'll need to explain what changed between your original filing and the amended one that resulted in the larger refund. The important thing is figuring out WHY the refund amounts were so different. Did you miss some deductions or credits in your first filing? Different input data? The IRS will want to know this information, and you should understand it yourself to avoid future filing errors.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I used free fillable forms first and then realized I missed some major deductions. Instead of filing twice, I used this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me identify what I did wrong on my first return. Basically you upload your tax documents and your current return, and their AI compares everything to find missed deductions or errors. Turns out I completely forgot to include some 1099 income AND missed claiming my home office deduction which explained the huge difference. They gave me a detailed report showing exactly what to fix on an amended return. Instead of submitting a second return and creating confusion, the amended return route is much cleaner and less likely to trigger issues with the IRS.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai from Comment 2. I was going to file my amended return through TurboTax but decided to check first if I had actually made mistakes. Uploaded my documents and my original return and wow - it found that I completely missed claiming my education credits (over $1500!). The report showed exactly which form and which lines needed to be corrected. Super easy to understand and actually explained why my refund calculations were so different. Used that info to file my 1040-X and now waiting for the larger refund. Definitely saved me from the headache of duplicate returns and possible flags on my account.

If you're struggling to get answers directly from the IRS about this situation (which you probably should do), check out Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used them when I had a similar issue with duplicate filings and couldn't get through on the IRS phone lines for weeks. Their service basically gets you to the front of the IRS phone queue so you don't waste hours on hold. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to talk directly with an IRS agent who told me exactly what to do - in my case file a superseding return since it was before the deadline, or an amended return after the deadline. They walked me through the process and it saved me so much stress not having to guess what would happen.

I'm back to eat my words from my skeptical comment above. After trying for THREE DAYS to reach the IRS myself about a similar filing issue, I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Got connected to an IRS agent in 75 minutes without having to do anything. The agent confirmed I couldn't just file twice and gave me step-by-step instructions for submitting a corrected return. She even told me which specific forms I needed and the best way to explain my situation in the paperwork to avoid delays. Saved me from what could have been months of back-and-forth letters with the IRS and potentially having both my returns frozen during investigation. Sometimes services actually deliver what they promise. Consider me surprised.

Just FYI - the two returns might be different because of tax credits or deductions you missed, but it could also be from straight-up errors. Double check that your income, filing status, and dependent info matches on both returns. One year I had a bigger refund on one software because I accidentally marked myself as Head of Household instead of Single!

Has anyone noticed that the IRS Free Fillable Forms are missing some forms and worksheets? That might be why your refund calculated differently. I had the same thing happen with education credits - the free fillable forms didn't have all the worksheets that TurboTax walked me through.

This is a really common situation, and you're right to be concerned about filing twice! The IRS systems will definitely catch duplicate returns and it can create unnecessary delays and complications. Since you've already submitted your first return, your best bet is to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) rather than submitting a completely new return. The amended return is specifically designed for situations like yours where you need to correct errors or add missing information. Before you do anything though, I'd strongly recommend figuring out exactly WHY there's such a big difference between the two calculations. Was it missing deductions, different filing status, forgotten tax credits, or something else? Understanding this will help you complete the amended return correctly and avoid similar issues in the future. The good news is that filing an amended return is straightforward - you just need to explain what changed and provide the correct information. It takes longer to process (usually 16+ weeks), but it's the proper way to handle this situation without creating red flags on your account.