> I owe federal tax.
Re-check your work.
You are SUPPOSED to get a refund. It makes you happy, it stirs the economy, and it means Unka Sam got to play with YOUR money all year and he kept the interest.
They write the tax-tables and deductions so this will "usually" happen for non-complex returns.
They even work it out so that Social Security people usually pay zero. (Old folks vote.) The last few years that idea has failed here. My gal collects SS, I'm still on salary. There is a form to work out how much of her SS is taxable, but my "high income" (ha-ha-ha! a buck more than you) makes most of her SS taxed at "my" rate. Every buck of raise I get boomerangs against her SS tax liability. This year, we even hit a $17 Late Penalty. And that includes steep itemized deductions (we really can't afford the loan and local tax on this house, but they do deduct well).
But one person, standard W-4 withholding, standard 1040 deduction, "should" come out near-even, usually cash back.
> you are picking the short end of the deal every time.
OTOH, the IRS is picking the long end of the stick.
Say what you like about the IRS, they do know how to take a little too much and make you like it. Those tables usually do the Right Thing. If you have a simple return, and owe money, it is more likely to be your goof than the IRS's.