Maybe I'll see a pothole fixed or something today to make me feel better.
Muh Roads!
posted by queencitybuckeyeMuh Roads!
This was going to be my contribution to the thread.
Someone tried to tell me in my wife's and I' situation we would be better off filing separately, I tried that for the first time in 18 years of marriage...
Let's just say they were wrong.
I have always setup my W4's so that at the end of the year I am always +/- about $100/$200. So I am always roughly "even" on my tax returns.
I went to go file separately, my wife was going to get back a couple hundred...I was going to owe $6000.
I re-did it as filing joint and all the sudden I am getting a $200 return...
Sounds like a marriage subsidy (not blaming you for it, at all, obviously).
I got $1 back this year.
My husband and I file separately due to student loans.
posted by justincredibleSounds like a marriage subsidy (not blaming you for it, at all, obviously).
Biggest problem was that since I make way more than my wife it put me filing separately (even if I claimed the kids) into a very high AMT...filing together we don't quite hit AMT. The fact that I was going to be hit with 26% and couldn't use the standard deduction because I was in AMT land was the major problem/issue.
The AMT level is like 60% higher married, and we had enough deductions/credits to fall under it (barely).
AMT sucks. If I was single with no kids holy crap would I pay a crap ton.
It was cheaper for us to file separately. Owed $5400 jointly. $3700 I owed and $1300 my wife got back separately.
Just mailed it in ..............and although next year will be much easier with the doubling of the standard deduction and lower rates, there has to be a better way. It is time to put the IRS out to pasture.
posted by kizer permanenteMaybe I'll see a pothole fixed or something today to make me feel better.
Or maybe just enjoy the road that the pothole is on... 😉
posted by QuakerOatsJust mailed it in ..............and although next year will be much easier with the doubling of the standard deduction and lower rates, there has to be a better way. It is time to put the IRS out to pasture.
Meeting my accountant this afternoon. I have a feeling, based on short conversations I've had, that I'm going to tell her to make the LEGAL & VALID elections I've directed her to make and I'll file as self-prepared, or I'm not giving them a dime.
She refused to file a form I was literally directed by an IRS agent to use, which would then force me to later file amended returns. I'm fucking livid.
I send the IRS $350.00 every month from a situation with my business in 2013, which is now closed, an arrangement agreed to do to protect the business, family and my personal integrity from a no longer partner/account fraudulent actions.
Along with my wife and I yearly pay check, social security and other addition income federal tax withdraw, which does not seem to be sufficient.
Which bring the Belly to this end of the year saga.. jointly, separately it does not matter … an additional $5000.00 is in mail to the IRS.
I just re-did my W4 for 2018 season with the new tax cuts (main change was the double the standard deduction now trumps my itemized deductions).
I always set my W4 so that I am +/- a few hundred dollars. Re-doing this will let me pocket about an extra $100 every paycheck, or pocket about $2600 extra this year.
Not quite pocket change as some of the opposition in Congress made it out to be, I kind of like it.
posted by justincredible
Amen
posted by Laley23Or maybe just enjoy the road that the pothole is on... 😉
probably a better way of looking at it.
Quickest way to get taxes lowered?
Don't let the government take it out of our checks automatically, make every single person physically write a check and send it in each month or year...
When people actually see how much they are paying, they will demand change. Until then it won't happen.
posted by jmogWhen people actually see how much they are paying, they will demand change. Until then it won't happen.
That's a good thought. I'm sure it would make a difference, but the reality is almost half of taxpayers don't pay federal income tax.
On the other hand, gross up their checks to include the employer portion of FICA....and increase the whole thing 50% (on par with Europe) to make the programs solvent and THEN watch the fireworks.
Just imagine if it wasn't death by 1000 cuts, and everyone paid ONE tax (no property taxes, sales taxes, etc...).
Imagine if we all were treated equally and fairly, with no bias, prejudice, or discrimination, and we all just mailed in $5,000 each, and that was it.
Imagine.
posted by QuakerOatsImagine if we all were treated equally and fairly, with no bias, prejudice, or discrimination, and we all just mailed in $5,000 each, and that was it.
Imagine.
Imagine if you made $17,000 a year and had to write a check for $5000.
posted by kizer permanenteImagine if you made $17,000 a year and had to write a check for $5000.
Statistically no one works full time and makes $17,000/year. $17,000/year is typically the college kids or part time workers.
YEAH! Let's imagine a world in which an entry-level worker just out of college (and with whatever debt that ensues) pays exactly as much $$$ as the CEO of their company!!!! And then let's imagine other really stupid ideas!!!
posted by jmogStatistically no one works full time and makes $17,000/year. $17,000/year is typically the college kids or part time workers.
And in QO’s weird little fantasy they’d send a check for $5000 too.
posted by kizer permanenteImagine if you made $17,000 a year and had to write a check for $5000.
Great incentive to earn more money, and do your fair share for your country.
QO's idea is obviously out there, I'd be happy if there was a set/flat percentage once normal deductions for living are taken out (similar to the standard deduction now).
Say everyone pays 10% and that's it, period. The very low income would still pay 0 since the standard deduction would drop them to basically zero adjusted income.
I was being a tad facetious ...............but can't we all be the same :)