Tax Time Windfall: Family Gets $54,000 Tax Refund

The IRS recently announced that the average federal income tax refund this year is expected to be $3,000. That makes the Wards of Smithfield, N.C., quite above average. After they had their taxes prepared this year, CNNMoney reported that Thelma and Dan Ward found out they're entitled to an astounding $54,000 refund.

The Wards make about $39,000 per year. You would guess that would make a tax refund such as theirs impossible, right? Not at all, thanks to refundable tax credits.