If your tax refund differs from last year, several factors could be responsible. Here's how to investigate the change:

Common reasons for refund changes:

1. Income fluctuations (higher or lower earnings)
2. Variations in income tax deducted from your paycheque
3. Changes in eligible tax credits and deductions

Steps to review your return:

1. Check income and deduction entries:
   • Review all sections where you entered income or tax deducted
   • Verify tax credits claimed
   • Ensure no slips or amounts are entered twice
   • Confirm all information is in the correct fields
2. Compare with last year's return:
   • If you used Wealthsimple Tax last year:
   • Go to the Summary > Amounts section
   • Click the Summary spreadsheet button for an Excel file with both years' data
   • Look for discrepancies or unusual changes
3. Review line-by-line summary:
   • In the Summary > Amounts section, expand the Refund or Balance Owing details
   • Compare key lines, especially tax-deducted amounts
4. Verify recent life changes:
   • Consider any major life events that might affect your taxes
   • Check if you qualify for new credits or deductions

Important notes:

• Small changes in income can sometimes lead to significant refund differences
• Tax laws and credit amounts may change from year to year

Remember:

• Keep records of all income, deductions, and credits
• If you're unsure about a specific entry, refer to your tax slips or documents

If you need assistance comparing your current return to last year's in Wealthsimple Tax, please contact Wealthsimple support. For questions about specific tax situations or significant changes in your refund, consider consulting with a tax expert.