Tax Refunds - Why congratulations? (Updated)

[Anonymous]

I am confused.  Why is it congratulatory to get back a large return.  It only means 1 of 2 things.

1. You make extremely low income (poverty level) and get back everything you put in plus EIC.
2. You make higher wage but didn't calculate the worksheet correctly, so your mistake gave the government an interest free loan that you could have been making money on all year.

Why would being poverty level or incorrectly calculating your worksheet be a point of congratulations?

EDIT:  Further explanation:

They would have more money and sooner if they just saved it from each of their pay checks instead of overpaying the government.

Picture going to McDonald's and the bill is $5 and you give the drive thru server a $1000 and tell her to keep the change til next year.  All year you have financial troubles where the $1000 could have helped you out of dire conditions.  Finally, a year later you go back and get your $995 change.  Is that reason for celebration?  You screwed yourself out of your own money for a year.

You could have put the $995 in investment account and had $1100+ after the year is up instead.  Still congratulating on $995?  It makes no sense from a financial perspective.

[theresaphilly]

I was wondering why folks were getting back all these thousand of dollars.

[LyTe684]

Why do so many people care either way?? lol

[amberlyp]

We are getting back $4,800. We don't make poverty level income. Hubby is military and I am an optician. I think that's a big amount but seeing some of the other stuff like $15,000 and beyond, I'm like wtf

[armywifey26]

We are not poverty level, I assure you

[Anonymous]

We got $5,000 back. We got congratulated because we were able to pay off our loan.

[kryptomom]

I agree.

And often these are the same people that can't find the money during the year to pay utility bills.

[Anonymous]

neither are we, and we are getting back almost 8 thousand. there are always other factors.

[Anonymous - Original Poster]

Because it seems financially irresponsible or ignorant.  If it's done out of ignorance, people want to help educate others on finances to help them get ahead.

Quoting LyTe684:

Why do so many people care either way?? lol

[Anonymous - Original Poster]

Explain?

Quoting Anonymous:

neither are we, and we are getting back almost 8 thousand. there are always other factors.

[Anonymous - Original Poster]

So then you overpaid.  That is WORSE than getting back due to poverty level.  This shows blatant ignorance.

Quoting armywifey26:

We are not poverty level, I assure you