What is a total refund?
The IRS refers to this as an overpayment. The amount of overpayment on your 2025 federal return is on Form 1040, Line 34.
An overpayment happens when you pay more taxes to the IRS than you need to. It's usually the same amount as the refund you receive from the IRS, but can be different if, for example, your refund is garnished or you chose to apply some of your refund towards next year's taxes. If the IRS made any adjustment to your return and changed your overpayment amount, enter that amount here, but don't include any interest you may have received from the adjustment.
If you are expecting a refund but haven't received it from the IRS yet, you should wait to amend until you've received your refund. However, if you absolutely must begin an amendment before you receive your refund, you can enter $0 as the total refund amount that you've received to preview how your changes would affect your original refund. Make sure to update this amount with the refund you receive before you file. Your original refund could be significantly delayed if you amend your return before receiving it.
An overpayment happens when you pay more taxes to the IRS than you need to. It's usually the same amount as the refund you receive from the IRS, but can be different if, for example, your refund is garnished or you chose to apply some of your refund towards next year's taxes. If the IRS made any adjustment to your return and changed your overpayment amount, enter that amount here, but don't include any interest you may have received from the adjustment.
If you are expecting a refund but haven't received it from the IRS yet, you should wait to amend until you've received your refund. However, if you absolutely must begin an amendment before you receive your refund, you can enter $0 as the total refund amount that you've received to preview how your changes would affect your original refund. Make sure to update this amount with the refund you receive before you file. Your original refund could be significantly delayed if you amend your return before receiving it.
