Tax refunds are good for most people. The simple reason is that left to our own devices, people don’t save or invest their tax refunds. People tend to go the easiest route and spend.
The average tax refund is $2,950 a year as of 2020. Meanwhile, 74% of Americans get a tax refund. I’ll consider you average for argument’s sake. At today’s typical savings rate of 1%, you’re missing out on a whopping $12 bucks in interest income!
Why $12, and not $24? It’s because you have to calculate the average balance of the year if you saved every $200/month payment diligently starting January 1st i.e. January $200, February $400, March $600 etc.
I’m definitely not a proponent of giving the government more money than they deserve, but missing out on $12 bucks in interest is something I can live with and so should you.
You have to ask yourself whether you have the discipline of saving that extra $200 a month, or using it to pay down debt. Most people are not disciplined enough to pay down debt and avoid buying junk.
This is why we have such massive debt problems in the first place! The government is essentially helping you “go broke to win big” by protecting 75% of American tax payers from blowing $2,400 a year without even knowing it.