The most direct way to get a larger refund is to have more tax withheld from your paychecks during the year

A tax refund is money you overpaid to the IRS during the year. The size of your refund depends on how much you withheld through your employer, how much you paid in estimated taxes if you're self-employed, and what deductions and credits you're may have access to to claim. You cannot create money that wasn't withheld, but you can claim deductions and credits you may have missed, and you can adjust your withholding for next year to get a larger refund going forward.

The IRS does not give larger refunds to people who ask. The refund you receive is determined by your actual tax liability—what you owe—minus what you already paid. If you want more money back, you need to either pay more during the year or reduce what you owe through legitimate deductions and credits.

Key Takeaways

  • Your refund size is set by how much you withheld during the year minus what you actually owe in taxes; you cannot increase it without changing one of those numbers.
  • Common deductions and credits people miss include the Earned Income Tax Credit, child tax credits, education credits, and charitable donations.
  • If you want a larger refund next year, you can adjust your W-4 form with your employer to increase the amount withheld from each paycheck.
  • Self-employed people and those with investment income can increase estimated tax payments to raise their refund.
  • Claiming deductions you're may have access to to—mortgage interest, medical expenses, business losses—reduces what you owe and can increase your refund without changing withholding.

Claim deductions you may have overlooked

Deductions reduce the amount of income the IRS counts as taxable. The more deductions you claim, the less you owe, and the larger your refund will be if you've already paid enough through withholding. Many people take the standard deduction—a flat amount that depends on your filing status—but if your actual deductible expenses add up to more than that, you should itemize deductions instead.

Common deductions include mortgage interest, state and local taxes (capped at $10,000), charitable donations, medical expenses above 7.5% of your income, and business expenses if you're self-employed. If you own a home, paid property taxes, made donations to may have access to charities, or had significant medical bills, add those up. If the total exceeds your standard deduction, itemizing will lower your taxable income and increase your refund.

Keep receipts and records for anything you plan to deduct. The IRS does not require you to attach them to your return, but you must have them if you're audited. For charitable donations, you need written acknowledgment from the charity. For medical expenses, keep bills and insurance statements.

Look for tax credits you haven't claimed

Tax credits are more powerful than deductions because they reduce your tax bill dollar-for-dollar rather than just reducing your taxable income. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest refundable credit for working people with lower incomes—it can return hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you earned under roughly $60,000 (the limit varies by filing status and number of dependents), you may be may have access to to it even if you don't owe any tax.

The Child Tax Credit gives you $2,000 per may have access to child under 17. The American Opportunity Tax Credit covers up to $2,500 of education expenses per student. The Lifetime Learning Credit covers up to $2,000 for other education costs. If you paid for dependent care so you could work, the Dependent Care Credit may return part of that cost. If you installed energy-efficient improvements to your home, the Residential Energy Credits may apply.

Many people miss these because they don't know they exist or think they don't may have access to. The IRS website has a credits and deductions tool that walks you through questions to see what you might be may have access to to. If you use tax software or a tax preparer, they will ask you questions designed to uncover credits you may have access to for.

Increase your withholding for next year

If you want a larger refund going forward, you can ask your employer to withhold more from your paychecks. This means you'll take home less each week, but you'll get more back when you file. Fill out a new Form W-4 and give it to your payroll department. The form asks about your filing status, dependents, other income, and deductions. Based on your answers, it calculates how much should be withheld.

You can also claim fewer allowances or ask for an additional flat amount to be withheld each pay period. For example, you could request an extra $50 per paycheck withheld. Over a year, that's $1,300 (if paid weekly) that you'll get back as a refund. The tradeoff is that you have less money to spend now.

This strategy works best if you have a stable job and know your income won't change much. If you're self-employed or have irregular income, you may want to make estimated tax payments instead, which you send directly to the IRS four times a year.

Make estimated tax payments if you're self-employed or have investment income

If you don't have an employer withholding taxes, you're responsible for sending the IRS estimated tax payments four times a year. These are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. If you want a larger refund, you can pay more than you think you owe during the year, and you'll get the overage back when you file.

To calculate your estimated payment, you need to forecast your income and expenses for the year, calculate your expected tax, and divide it by four. The IRS provides Form 1040-ES with a worksheet to help. If you underpay, you may owe a penalty, so it's better to overestimate slightly if you're unsure.

You can pay estimated taxes online through the IRS website, by mail, or through your bank. Keep records of what you paid and when, because you'll need that information when you file your return.

Report all income, including side gigs and investment earnings

If you have income the IRS doesn't know about—freelance work, gig economy jobs, rental income, or investment gains—you may owe more tax than your withholding covers. However, if you've already paid enough through withholding or estimated payments, reporting this income correctly ensures you get back any overpayment. Underreporting income is illegal and can result in penalties and interest.

Report 1099 income (freelance, contract work, and some investment income) on Schedule C if you're self-employed, or on the appropriate schedule if it's rental or investment income. If you received a 1099 form from a client or financial institution, the IRS received a copy too, so they'll know if you don't report it.

File your return on time and claim all dependents you support

You must file by April 15 (or the next business day if that falls on a weekend or holiday) to receive your refund. If you file late, the IRS will not process your return until you do, and you won't receive your refund. If you can't file by the deadline, you can request an automatic extension, which gives you until October 15, but you still owe any taxes due by April 15 or you'll face penalties and interest.

Each dependent you claim—a child, parent, or other relative you support—reduces your taxable income and may may have access to you for additional credits. You must have a valid Social Security number for each dependent and be able to prove you provided more than half their financial support for the year. Claiming dependents you don't actually support is tax fraud and can result in serious penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a bigger refund by filing married filing separately instead of jointly?

Almost never. Filing separately usually results in a smaller refund or a larger tax bill because you lose access to many credits and deductions. File jointly unless a tax preparer has specifically identified a reason to file separately in your situation.

What if I owe taxes instead of getting a refund?

You can still reduce what you owe by claiming deductions and credits. If you owe after that, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS, pay in full by the deadline, or request a short-term extension. Owing taxes does not prevent you from filing; it just means you need to pay rather than receive money back.

Does the IRS ever give refunds larger than what I withheld?

Yes, through refundable credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit can return more money than you paid in taxes. These are designed to help lower-income working people and families with children.

If I increase my withholding, will I get that money back?

Yes, when you file your return. If you withhold more than you owe, the IRS refunds the difference. However, you won't have access to that money until you file and receive your refund, which typically takes one to three weeks if you file electronically.

Can a tax preparer or software help me find deductions I missed?

Yes. Tax software asks detailed questions about your situation and flags deductions and credits you may may have access to for. A tax preparer will do the same and can often find deductions you didn't know existed. This can be worth the cost if you have a complex situation or significant deductible expenses.