<prompt> Human: So Ive been working since I was 16, but for the 2014 year I fell under the salary line required to necessitate filing my taxes. I got a new job at Trader Joes right at the end of 2014, and in the 2015-2016 year I made about 11,000 dollars, about 500 of that going to federal withholding. I filed for free using TurboTax, because all that was really required was my W2 information, which I knew was simple enough that I shouldnt really need to pay a third party to facilitate. I also included 600 dollars in charitable contribution this year not a lie. I will be receiving 27 dollars back of the 500 in federal withholding I paid in. I am a dependent, so I understand that could play a part, but every adult ever told me that teenagers get pretty much everything back. My girlfriend is a freshman in college, made about 6k this year, paid about 400 in federal withholding, and is getting 415 back. She did pay HR to file. I triple checked all of my figures and everything was correct. What happened? Did using free software fuck me over? Is there some information that I, along with every adult in my life, am missing regarding the way taxes work for teenagers?I realize its pretty much too late to do anything now but this is a frustrating situation and would like to know why this occurred this way. Any and all information is very much appreciated.  <response>: Since your taxes are simple its pretty easy to see. You earned about 11,000 and 500 was withheld from federal. The standard deduction is 6300, leaving you with 4700 in taxable income, at 10. Therefore, your taxes for 2015 were 470. 500 - 470 30 refundThe 600 in charitable donations wont affect anything unless you itemize your deductions. Even then, you would need to itemize past 6300, which is extremely unlikely. You can try, if you do get past 6300, youll save 10 cents for every dollar past 6300 that you itemize. But very things can be itemized, especially for someone your age. 