Tax season is here, so turn on the federal spigot and let the “free money” flow! Many Twitter users are rejoicing that their federal tax refunds include “free money” from the IRS.
just got my tax returns. I love free money
— Sebastian valverde (@Sebastianemilio) February 28, 2013
During the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney shocked the nation by heartlessly noting that nearly 47 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax. Thanks to refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, 30 percent of workers reduced their tax liability to below zero in 2011, resulting in a payment from the IRS.
Or, as some Twitter users call it, “free money.”
ive never filed taxes . mannnnn i wish i could get some free money . imma have to file my taxes to see what the hype is about lol
— iHustle (@viciousindian) March 4, 2013
Billions of dollars of that “free money” is in erroneous payments to both legal workers and illegal aliens. The IRS sent out an estimated $15.2 billion in “improper” EITC payments in 2011. Reminder: Cuts associated with Sequesterpocalygeddon total $85 billion. That $15.2 billion would go a long way toward ending the catastrophic zombie uprising that’s bringing our nation to its knees.
But let’s hear it for “free money”!
really need to do mha taxes thou … need that free cash
— . Pretty Vixen . (@_QueenMiyna) February 26, 2013
Not getting as much money from taxes as I hoped for, but free money is free money.
— Mark (@AlbinoSnowman28) February 25, 2013
https://twitter.com/MoneyDance_BD/status/308769553196908544
https://twitter.com/NinoSazzy/status/307218642939043840
https://twitter.com/simpleetay/status/307007170820599808
Ain NOTHING wrong w/ getting taxes. Shit, that's FUCKING FREE MONEY! Tf?
— blessed ♚ (@thickBOOTY_) February 26, 2013
https://twitter.com/_Royster_/status/305714263643803648
Taxes done now I just gotta wait for the refund check to get here #freemoney
— Greg Kozel (@gregkozel) February 23, 2013
Gettin 600 bucks back in taxes. Yay. Should be a whole lot more but oh well. Free money.
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@rooyyccee) February 18, 2013
Im not trynna spend kno more money till my free money come my taxes but im not rushing it
— Tanequa (@tanequa3) February 17, 2013
Get to claim my tax back #freemoney
— andrew steed (@steed_andrew) February 23, 2013
So happy I got my taxes done ain't nun like free money $$$$$$
— Darius Lloyd (@BeenInTheGameOG) February 22, 2013
At H&R Block first time filling taxes ill take any free money
— Nick (@mrmcoates1) February 22, 2013
https://twitter.com/adambogzz/status/304741598145675264
I got my first tax refund!!!! $60 may not be much but hey it's free money!
— Own It, It's Yours.. (@Desteezy) February 21, 2013
https://twitter.com/Jollaaa_/status/304623997205757952
https://twitter.com/AdriennnexO/status/304423730766024704
Filed for my taxes over the weekend, its about time I get some FREE money coming into my pocket 😉
— Lilliana (@Lilliee_esLocaa) February 20, 2013
I guess i can now find out what free money is about, just filed my taxes for the first time
— solo?? (@jo_lusco) February 20, 2013
https://twitter.com/Breandan10/status/304226079315464193
Of course, not all of the people celebrating that sweet, sweet free money are necessarily claiming refundable tax credits.
Pro tip: a federal tax refund is NOT FREE MONEY. It just means you paid the gov't more than you should have for a year, dumbass.
— GirlwithMoxie (@GirlwithMoxie) February 20, 2013
As some Twitter users note, when a taxpayer receives a big refund, that money has been on loan to the federal government. And it’s not the taxpayer getting the sweet deal.
I wish more people understood that a tax return isn't free money. It is an interest free loan the government took from you. #FactsMatter
— Dagny Taggart (@Indepgirlism) February 28, 2013
you folks getting a big tax refund, why do you let the govt use your money interest-free all year?
— neonne anti-fascist @ home ? (@neonne) February 18, 2013
It's not a gift people. A tax refund is a repayment of a yearlong, interest-free loan to the government. Not something to get excited about.
— Matt McWilliams (@MattMcWilliams2) February 28, 2013
My tax refund this year was obscenely large. Guess I should adjust my shit so I'm not giving the government such a huge free loan eh?
— Aubrey Norris (オーブリ) (@Chupacaubrey) February 21, 2013
Bingo!
But that didn’t stop many from celebrating hefty tax refunds.
https://twitter.com/cristinbrianne/status/304002846435729408
Tax refund! Extra grand is fucking awesome! Put right into savings for the mean time cause Im not tryna spend that shit! ????
— Jeff Saliba (@jeffsaliba) February 22, 2013
Helloooo awesome tax refund #moneyinthebank ??
— Ashley Sutton (@AshleySutton20) February 22, 2013
Nothing feels as awesome as getting way more back on you tax refund than you expected
— Danielle (@danielleuhbelle) February 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/BRENNENMOUTH/status/302938635223826432
Glad to get a nice, big fat tax REFUND check this year! #ThanksGovernment that check will probably pay for gas for my truck for a week.
— James B (@iFix737) February 22, 2013
https://twitter.com/glenn_robert_p/status/304844374825644032
https://twitter.com/alanzzw_30/status/305015837243359233
https://twitter.com/toolovelyxo/status/303987287539204096
https://twitter.com/hollyfishhh/status/303736520454574080
So excited about my big ass tax refund this year! What to do with all the money?!
— Steph ? (@stephtweetsx) February 18, 2013
As always, math is hard.
Editor’s note: One Twitter user dropped by the comments to let us know she was joking about “free money.” We have removed her tweet.
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