re: Why are people excited about a tax refund?

2 things:

1. The EIC people are, effectively, getting a paycheck (not a refund, but a direct transfer). They are legitimately making out.

2. People are conditioned to being happy about the refund, because that's good for the IRS. They appear to be giving you money at one time, because it is almost invisible when they take that money every paycheck.

The power of propoganda is stunning, particularly if there is private market advertising to reinforce it - look at all the marketing around people lining up to take that dirty, worthless refund check off your hands in exchange for a shiny new car, or television or whatnot.

How can you not be happy about free money (and category 1. above really are getting "free" money - free to them)?