Year-to-year differences in your refund amount are normal and usually reflect changes in your financial, professional, or personal life. Variations in your total earnings, updates to your Form W-4 withholding settings, marital status changes, or claiming new dependents directly influence your bottom line.
Furthermore, annual adjustments to government tax brackets, standard deduction thresholds, and eligibility guidelines for tax credits can alter your return. Even if your salary remains the same, changes in tax legislation can lead to a different refund total.