I’m not sure OP is complaining about taxes themselves, just the way people react to a refund.

The refund means someone overpaid all year and could have had that money throughout the year. And yet many people get excited about a refund as if they’re getting a gift rather than, well, a refund of what they already paid.

In OP’s mother’s case, she was disappointed that she owed more. If she’d managed her withholdings differently, she could have avoided owing and, despite paying the exact same in the end, would probably have been more satisfied with her tax outcome.

And yeah, US here. I wish my tax money was going to better causes. I genuinely want my money to go to improving my community (schools, healthcare, social services). And some does, but even more goes to horrible things.