To get a tax return closest to $0, you need to align your tax withholding with your actual tax liability so that you neither overpay (resulting in a large refund) nor underpay (resulting in a tax bill). This is achieved by adjusting your Form W-4 with your employer to ensure the right amount of federal income tax is withheld from each paycheck.
If you've been overpaying and need to take some money back for each pay period to get closer to zero, then you can try increasing the number of your withholding allowances. However, you must have a legitimate reason for doing so. If there is no reasonable basis for increasing your withholdings, the IRS can fine you.
Yes. Tax refunds are an overpayment, you're just getting money back that you never owed the IRS in the first place. Lower refunds mean you're taking home more money in each paycheck. The ideal situation is to owe or be owed as close to zero as possible.
For federal tax withholding: Submit a new Form W-4 to your employer if you want to change the withholding from your regular pay. Complete Form W-4P to change the amount withheld from pension, annuity, and IRA payments. Then submit it to the organization paying you.
How to maximize tax return: 4 ways to increase your tax refund
You no longer claim "0 or 1" allowances on the modern IRS Form W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) because allowances were eliminated in 2020; instead, you provide filing status, dependents, and other income details for more accurate withholding, but claiming 0 generally means more tax withheld (larger refund) while claiming 1 (in the old system, or equivalent on the new form) meant less withheld (smaller refund/potential owed tax). If you're single, have one job, and want to minimize owing taxes, you'll generally fill out the new W-4 to withhold accurately, perhaps by claiming 0 allowances or using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
Common tax return mistakes that can cost taxpayers
Who qualifies for the $6,000 senior deduction? People who turned 65 by Dec. 31, 2025, are eligible for the new deduction, according to the IRS. The deduction provides $6,000 for each qualifying individual, or $12,000 for married couples who both qualify. The tax break is subject to income limits.
It's simply the government returning your money that you've been overpaying them—money you could have been using all year long to pay extra on your debt. Your goal should be to have a tax refund as close to zero as possible so you'll have more money in your paycheck. Don't wait until next year to get your money back.
The IRS allows you to amend returns from the last three years, which sometimes results in delayed or unexpected refund checks. While a few taxpayers are genuinely seeing deposits of $2,000 or $3,000, those refunds are tied to specific past errors or missed credits, not a general program available now.
If you didn't pay enough tax throughout the year, either through withholding or by making estimated tax payments, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax.
To be clear, a larger refund doesn't mean taxpayers are increasing their income. Rather, the refund money was just over-withheld during the year, and is being returned to the taxpayer.
If you claimed 0 and still owe taxes, chances are you added “married” to your W4 form. When you claim 0 in allowances, it seems as if you are the only one who earns and that your spouse does not. Then, when both of you earn, and the amount reaches the 25% tax bracket, the amount of tax sent is not enough.
Claiming "0" means more withheld. It reduces the take-home pay but possibly leads to a refund. Claiming "1" means less withheld. This option presents a larger paycheck but increases the risk of owing amounts at tax time.
The following are good options for your tax money, and should be the top priorities for your refund.
The "$1000 instant tax deduction" refers to a proposed Australian tax policy, specifically from the Albanese Labor government in 2025, allowing eligible workers to claim a flat $1,000 deduction for work-related expenses without needing receipts, simplifying tax returns for those with lower expenses but potentially costing those with higher expenses, starting from 1 July 2026. It's an option to replace itemised work-related deductions, not an extra refund, and doesn't affect non-work-related deductions like charity.
Making tax-deductible contributions
Giving money away or saving it may help increase the size of your refund. That's because certain contributions to retirement and health care savings accounts can reduce your taxable income, and donations to charity can, too.