x
Breaking News
More () »

Return Shock: Taxpayers Seeing Red, Not Enough Green After Getting Tax Refunds

New tax laws go into effect this filing season, and that has some people's tax refunds looking a little slimmer than in previous years.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — It's early into tax season, but some people are already getting back their refunds and taking another look.

On average, according to the IRS -- the average refund is down 8.4 percent compared to last year.

RELATED: Millions of Americans will probably be surprised by their tax refunds -- or bills

The IRS said last year's average refund was $2,035 whereas this year so far it is $1,865.

This year there are changes to things like deductions, tax forms, exemptions... the list goes on.

Let's be honest though, the only change you care about is "Am I making more money or less?"

Tax experts we spoke with say there are winners and losers when it comes to the new tax code, but your tax refund doesn't tell the whole story.

They say in many cases the Government was taking less money from each paycheck, so they just don't owe you quite as much.

"When you get a refund at the end of the year that's because you overpaid during the year. What your 1040 form is is a reconciliation of how much income did you have and how much should you have been paying and compare that to what you were actually paying -- so a large refund means you paid in way too much," said Milton Howell, with DMJ in Greensboro.

 So with the *new* tax plan, more of that money seems to have been in your paycheck, rather than in your refund.

Before You Leave, Check This Out