Yall know the Obama comment was meant as a joke, right?
If things had gone as they had in the past few years we would have broke even, maybe a slight refund. The wife in the past few years had done work on the side for one of her companies sales reps, for that she always received a 1099 form and no taxes were taken out of the compensation she got for doing that work. As the economy dictated in 2009 that stuff all fell through so she made no money on the side. And that is why we get a refund. And now she was laid off a few weeks ago as her company closed down the customer service center here in Knoxville.
Another reason is because of the federal stimulus that netted most people about 8 bucks a week more in take home pay. I had payroll at my work adjust for that and take the extra 8 bucks out of my check. So when we got the 800 dollar credit on the 09 taxes I had alread made up for it in deductions.
At any rate it is nice to get a refund instead of writing a check. I suspect in 2010 it will be back to breaking even or slightly owing.