I'm not a CPA, nor do I play one on TV, but if the DU OP is about a state-level income tax refund, I believe it may be taxable at the Federal level.
As a CPA, the IRS deems with their typical legal mumbo jumbo that state tax refunds "
MAY" be taxable at the federal level. I could provide a link but I'd be willing to bet no one will read it.
Which means it is a total gray area. For a low income DUmmy most likely being a very tiny fish, the IRS normally doesn't care about such issues.
Other than the textbooks which detail theory and history that still retain relevant information, the most expensive textbook and ultimately worthless ones we were required to purchase were ones such as "Intro to Tax Accounting 1991". By the time they were printed, the tax laws had already changed because Congress constantly changes the arcane tax laws.