You didn't get a full refund because you were a student, students are taxed just like everyone else but have access to few good deductions and credits that can greatly reduce their taxes.

You most likely received a full refund for one of two reasons. 1) You used the Hope or Lifetime Learning Credit which allows a direct reduction of your tax liability. There is a formula based on your income and expense amount but the bottom line is it's a credit that reduces what you owe. 2) You took an education expense deduction that reduced your taxable income to nothing, therefore owing no taxes for the year.

Which one you took depends on your income level and how long you've been in school.

As for this year, I have no idea how much you make so I really can't give you a definite answer. The Hope Credit is only for students in their first two years and I *think* the AGI limit is $58K per year. For the deduction, it is for anyone in school and I think the limit is somewhere around $80K. I'm not 100% sure on the exact amount of each limit but you can find all of that info online. I've been out of public accounting for quite a few years and the limits could have easily changed since then.

Maybe you didn't fill in everything correctly. Did you receive your 1098-T and enter all of that info on the H&R Block website? BTW, I use Tax Act and greatly prefer it to H&R.