What is the average tax refund from federal taxes?

The IRS web site shows recent averages, $2,913 in 2011, for example but the average is meaningless. To start with people who would get a small refund don't bother because it will cost more to have a tax professional help them with the confusing tangle of forms and details than they'll get back. The tax code makes many distinctions and its unlikely two people with the same earnings pay the same tax even if their general situations appear identical and otherwise quite average.