TUCSON, AZ — Smaller tax refunds are surprising many people expecting relief.
According to the IRS, the average refund among early filers is down 8.4%.
H&R Block tax specialist, Maria Jose Swailem, says everyone's situation is different but there are a couple core reasons to point to a lower refund or ending up owing money.
"Back in February 2018 some of the tax payers were receiving their pay checks and they were seeing a difference on their paychecks, they were seeing more money coming to them."
Swailem says with the new tax law, withholding tables changed, if people didn't update their W-4's, they could end up receiving less money already in their paychecks throughout the year.
"Withholdings are a major part of your refund right now because we don't have exemptions, exemptions are gone."
There is still time to see a difference in your refund next year.
One way of doing that is by asking your HR representative at work that you'd like to update your W-4 to increase the amount of money taken out of your paycheck each month.
"They have to do it now if they want to see a bigger refund for 2020."
The deadline to file taxes this year is April 15.
