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New plan. We just won’t collect the taxes
Hotair ^ | 12/09/2012 | JAZZ SHAW

Posted on 12/09/2012 5:00:21 PM PST by SeekAndFind

There's a new bit of creative thinking making the rounds in DC this weekend, proving yet again that not all ideas wind up being good ones. According to this line of thought, assuming no deal is reached to prevent tax rates from going up on the middle class, Timothy Geithner has certain, hidden superpowers which will save the day. If the tax rates go up, people won't need to worry about it because we just won’t withhold the extra money from their paychecks.

The White House has the power to temporarily protect taxpayers from middle-class tax hikes even as upper income rates rise if Congress does nothing and all of the Bush-era tax rates expire in January.

Experts and lawmakers alike agree that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has the power to adjust how much is withheld from paychecks for tax purposes — for all taxpayers or just for some.

By doing so, Geithner could ensure paychecks reflect the White House position that wealthier taxpayers with annual income higher than $250,000 see their taxes rise. Geithner at the same time could leave withholding tables where they are for the middle class, ensuring those workers don’t see a higher cut from their paychecks.

I’ve noticed a bit of confusion out there, particularly given some of the comments popping up on Twitter, so we should first identify what this doesn’t mean. The White House can not simply ignore the tax laws put in place by Congress and collect a different amount of tax than what is due, and this proposal isn’t suggesting that. If the tax rate goes up, you’re still going to owe more money.

But what they’re talking about is the fact that Treasury is responsible for publishing the withholding tables which employers use to determine how much to deduct from workers’ paychecks for their taxes. In theory, Geithner could leave the withholding tables the same for lower income workers, effectively making it seem as if their taxes haven’t gone up. But this is a pretty dangerous game to play unless you’re very sure you know what the eventual tax rate is going to be and when it will go into effect. If you guess wrong and fail to withhold the correct amount, tens of millions of people will find themselves owing a big ole’ check to the IRS when tax day rolls around and you’ll find yourself about as popular as a skunk at a garden party.

So what does this plan actually “solve” in terms of the ongoing tax debate? In reality… nothing.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: geithner; tax; taxes; timgeithner
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1 posted on 12/09/2012 5:00:29 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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Another phony, dick move by the Admin.


2 posted on 12/09/2012 5:02:00 PM PST by Gene Eric (Demoralization is a weapon of the enemy. Don't get it, don't spread it!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I have a better Idea tax cheat lets stop paying taxes in mass. If you starve the pig it dies and so does all the sucklings.


3 posted on 12/09/2012 5:04:12 PM PST by ronnie raygun (bb)
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To: SeekAndFind

How ‘bout we just don’t pay them...worked for Timmy.


4 posted on 12/09/2012 5:09:33 PM PST by Hotlanta Mike ("Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu)
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To: ronnie raygun

RE: I have a better Idea tax cheat lets stop paying taxes in mass.

Won’t they be arrested?


5 posted on 12/09/2012 5:11:02 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Yet another example of the Obama Executive branch just taking over legislative functions like a dictatorship. If Congress doesn’t go along they will just implement what they want via IRS


6 posted on 12/09/2012 5:12:28 PM PST by plain talk
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To: SeekAndFind
Won’t they be arrested?

Only if they've ever contributed to a Republican or a Christian organization.
7 posted on 12/09/2012 5:20:30 PM PST by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
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To: ronnie raygun
I have a better Idea tax cheat lets stop paying taxes in mass. If you starve the pig it dies and so does all the sucklings.

Not sure how you do that. They already have our 2012 tax money. For 2013 you could reduce withholding but then what? Not file? Conservatives are like cats. They can't be herded. You can't count on millions to even fall in line to vote for a single conservative candidate to take out Romney much less be willing to go to jail

8 posted on 12/09/2012 5:23:27 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Nachum

Ping.


9 posted on 12/09/2012 5:40:01 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: plain talk

Then we deserve what we have.


10 posted on 12/09/2012 5:43:03 PM PST by hillarys cankles
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To: ronnie raygun

“...I have a better Idea tax cheat lets stop paying taxes in mass. If you starve the pig it dies and so does all the sucklings....”

I think that is one of their biggest fears is a massive income tax revolt. It’s a tax that is absolutely disgusting and they know it. That’s why they absolutely crush even the slightest resistance to keep the “unwashed masses” in line and the dollars rolling in. 14 million seems to be the magic number for not being able to track and jail illegals. IF 14 million taxpayers all quite at the same time, the PIG would starve in a matter of days. They cannot put 14 million people in jail. Even if they tried, the repercussions would be absolutely staggering and on a level that they couldn’t handle. It’s got to be one of their biggest fears.


11 posted on 12/09/2012 5:51:22 PM PST by lgjhn23 (When the tainted finger of government touches anything, the ROT begins.)
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To: lgjhn23

Imagine what would happen to mush heads who did not realize the tax withholding game and come up with huge payments due to the IRS at tax filing time. : (

That is a real and clear cut middle class wealth shake down even the stupidest porn addict, druggy liberals can comprehend. You owe the US government $2,000 now. “Obama’s free stuff ain’t free and here’s the bill with your name on it!”

I would let Obama play that game, if I was able to decide. We need all Americans with skin in the tax game.


12 posted on 12/09/2012 6:01:18 PM PST by SaraJohnson
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To: Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; ...

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/


13 posted on 12/09/2012 6:05:39 PM PST by Nachum (The List is off the Google blacklist- www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Merlinator; GladesGuru; GailA; Squantos; Seizethecarp; The Klingon; thouworm; MilicaBee; ...

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/


14 posted on 12/09/2012 6:07:25 PM PST by Nachum (The List is off the Google blacklist- www.nachumlist.com)
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To: ronnie raygun

I agree. Come April 15th we should all go to our local post offices and burn our tax returns along with effigies of the messiah.

Just refuse to send the bastards any more of OUR money.


15 posted on 12/09/2012 6:08:59 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
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To: hillarys cankles
Then we deserve what we have.

WINNER!

16 posted on 12/09/2012 6:10:42 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
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To: LostInBayport
Won’t they be arrested?
Only if they've ever contributed to a Republican or a Christian organization.

That was my thought too. All taxpayers would become criminals, get out of line and you go to jail.

Sounds rather Ayn Rand-ish to me.

17 posted on 12/09/2012 6:16:27 PM PST by ZOOKER ( Exploring the fine line between cynicism and outright depression)
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To: SeekAndFind
Is this comedian Geithner insane? Or does he just play one on national television?

"Trust me?" from the most opaque and duplicitous administration in U.S. History?

Everybody knows...

There has never been yet a "tax on the rich" which didn't filter down to the 'middle class;' The income tax, when created, was to apply to the rich only and be limited to 1%.
How did that work out?

Anyone with control of 6th grade math can grasp that taxing only the rich can't possibly reduce either the annual deficit or current debt. Unfortunately only workers (producers) are expected to pay for tax increases.
The ever increasing welfare army (excluding social security and medicare!) which more and more have a greater useful income than the people supporting them, are never expected to pay any increases at all!

Can someone explain how that is possible?

18 posted on 12/09/2012 6:33:15 PM PST by publius911 (Formerly Publius 6961, formerly jennsdad)
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To: publius911
Can someone explain how that is possible?

The "rich" are nothing more than conduits to transfer collected taxes from the populace to the fed gov.

The fed gov knows this, the providers of services and goods know this, only the dumb bastards that fall for the class warfare "tax the rich "mantra are blissfully unaware of this.

The reason pols target the rich is because there is less of them.

However, the money is in the general populace, and it is continually collected, but the federal collectors - the "rich" simply pass it on to the fed gov.

Those who provide services and goods should ought to petition the fed gov for payment for their tax collecting services.

19 posted on 12/09/2012 6:49:27 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: lgjhn23

Won’t work they’re way ahead of you.That’s why they set up mandatory with holding on paychecks.


20 posted on 12/09/2012 7:22:51 PM PST by bonehead4freedom
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