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House Democrats Aim to Remove 401k Tax Breaks
All American Blogger ^ | 10/22/08 | Duane Lester

Posted on 10/22/2008 9:42:21 AM PDT by Bodhi1

For those who don't know, here's what it is in a nutshell:

Employee 401k contribution are automatically deducted from their paycheck each pay period. This money is taken out before the employees paycheck is taxed. The contributions are invested at the employees direction into one or more funds provided in the plan. Employers often "match" employee contributions, but are not required to do so. While the investments grow in the employees 401k account, they do not pay any taxes on it.

The individual is using his or her property to ensure a prosperous future before the government has a chance to seize it. It is a great plan. I take advantage of it at work, as do many of my co-workers. You should see how attentive some of these folks are to the stock market.

The key part of the plan is found in the last sentence of the above quote. House Democrats are considering abolishing those tax breaks.

(Excerpt) Read more at allamericanblogger.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: 110th; 401k; democrats; elections; investments; ira; rothira; taxes
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To: gotribe
Bank of Mattress, insured by FDIC Remington, Ruger, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Browning, FN, Armalite, Colt, and Sig-Sauer.

Had to fix that, man.

21 posted on 10/22/2008 10:01:51 AM PDT by L,TOWM (Mcwhatshisname/PALIN, '08!!!)
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To: glide625
So even 20 year olds would be required to "invest" 5% of their pay in bonds? It would be simpler to just have the democrats put on masks and rob them at gunpoint.

How about we try a trial system of just using 5% of the 12.4% already taken for Social Security and putting that into an individual account? No, wait, that's similar to President Bush's plan which the Dems told us would kill Social Security.

I have the feeling that if Obama gets ahold of the tax code he will make it even more nightmarishly complicated and people will be begging for a flat tax or the FairTax by 2012.

22 posted on 10/22/2008 10:02:35 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Obama: Spread the Wealth = Marx: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs)
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To: nufsed
You’ll pay 7-12 times more taxes in retirement as the amount your deferred in your work years.

Can I see the math on that? Most people are in a lower tax bracket during their retirement years.

23 posted on 10/22/2008 10:02:43 AM PDT by pegleg
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To: nufsed
401ks are a government tax trap. You’ll pay 7-12 times more taxes in retirement as the amount your deferred in your work years. Get out now and do something which grows tax free.

What are you smoking? Seriously?

First and foremost, the amount of principal you would be able to put in an investment would be reduced by your marginal tax rate if you did so with "after-tax" dollars. That's a lot of money to be lost over appreciation.

Secondly, you will likely be in a lower tax bracket at retirement than during your working years. Now, instead of paying only your (lower) marginal rate on growth, you'll be paying it on principal too, but that rate is lower than the taxes you would have paid while working. If you invested with post-tax dollars, you would only be paying taxes on your profits, but those would be less because of the smaller initial investment, and you would have paid higher taxes on the principal in the first place.

Finally, many employers offer some form of 401k matching. This is the most reliable source of "free money" in the world, at least to someone who works for a living.

24 posted on 10/22/2008 10:04:00 AM PDT by kevkrom (If Obama promises to tax your neighbor to give to you, what's he promising your neighbor?)
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To: Bodhi1

This is only the start. They will have to go after every pot of savings you think you’ve secured for your retirement. Where do you think the wealth to be spread is going to come from?


25 posted on 10/22/2008 10:04:02 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Nepolean fries the idea powder)
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To: Bodhi1
McCain needs to jump on this and NOW!

People stand not to lose just their 401(k) contributions but their employer's matching contributions as well.

What's next? Our IRA's? Damned right they are!

Democrats do not want you to fund your own retirement - they want you to be 100% dependent on the government, which is to say, on THEM.

Self-reliance is the enemy of the Democrat Party.

26 posted on 10/22/2008 10:04:06 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (Somewhere in Illinois, a community is missing its organizer.)
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To: estrogen
"Under Ghilarducci’s plan, all workers would receive a $600 annual inflation-adjusted subsidy from the U.S. government but would be required to invest 5 percent of their pay into a guaranteed retirement account administered by the Social Security Administration. The money in turn would be invested in special government bonds that would pay 3 percent a year, adjusted for inflation." AND "So, instead of getting around 15% on my 401k investments, I’ll get a government bond at 3%. Why don’t they just kick me straight in the groin while they are at it? Seriously, this is what passes for a reform to Democrats?"

Big sign: DEMOCRATS AT WORK
27 posted on 10/22/2008 10:04:24 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: nufsed

Actually the money is in TIAA-CREF and is the retirement plan for a non-profit aerospace company — they put in 9% of salary and can be matched up to 15%. Took money out of the market and put it in Traditional and bonds about two years ago. Family hasn’t lost a dime since that time. All 401K’s were rolled over into that plan and I keep a close watch.


28 posted on 10/22/2008 10:07:56 AM PDT by PhiKapMom ( BOOMER SOONER -- VOTE FOR McCAIN/PALIN2008! LetsGetThisRight.com)
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To: K-oneTexas

Laura D’Andrea Tyson is Obama’s Economic Adviser. Unbder the Clinton’s she tried to get Employer Contributions to 401k’s taxed as “current income” and proposed a 15% RETRO-ACTIVE tax on them to make up for them not being taxed in the first place. That congress didn’t have the stomach for TWO retro-active taxes. Barney Frank has no such trepidations.


29 posted on 10/22/2008 10:08:27 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: K-oneTexas

Laura D’Andrea Tyson is Obama’s Economic Adviser. Unbder the Clinton’s she tried to get Employer Contributions to 401k’s taxed as “current income” and proposed a 15% RETRO-ACTIVE tax on them to make up for them not being taxed in the first place. That congress didn’t have the stomach for TWO retro-active taxes. Barney Frank has no such trepidations.


30 posted on 10/22/2008 10:08:32 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: bmwcyle
This will piss me off to no end.

Robbing people of their savings will NOT stand, and will cause a major rebellion. People could die over this kind of action.

31 posted on 10/22/2008 10:08:48 AM PDT by meyer (We are all Joe the Plumber)
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To: estrogen
This can't be America.

This is not America.

This is the U.S.S.A.

Rejoice in the Glorious Revolution!

32 posted on 10/22/2008 10:10:05 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Secondhand Aztlan Smoke causes drug addiction obesity in global warming cancer immigrant terrorists.)
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To: Bodhi1

mcCain - the election was just handed to you.

NOW FOR PITY SAKES ) TAKE THE BALL AND RUN !!!!!!!!!


33 posted on 10/22/2008 10:11:12 AM PDT by Reagan69
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To: nufsed

My theory is the income tax rate is going to constantly creep upwards. Why take that chance? Pay the Bush rate now and it’s less painful that it’s gonna’ be.


34 posted on 10/22/2008 10:11:22 AM PDT by Terry Mross (O)
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To: madison10
How does Bank of Mattress hold up if it is beset by a FIRE?

Gold doesn't burn.

35 posted on 10/22/2008 10:11:48 AM PDT by slnk_rules
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To: pegleg
The 401k advocates say that you will need less money and be in a lower tax bracket. Let's examine those assumptions.

You don't know the tax rates in the future, so it's a wager you're making with your money. Go ahead and pay off your largest tax deduction.

If you live 36 years after retirement the cost of living will probably double twice. So, how will you not outlive your money? Last year, the business section of the LA Times said that the average 401k is gone after 13 years.

If you pay 500 a month for 35 years, and you make 7.5% and are in a 33.3% state and federal marginal bracket, you'll have $1 million after 35 years. You deferred $70,000 in taxes (2,000 a year).

You'll pay $333,334 in taxes on the roll out and then taxes on the dividends when you reinvest and live the rest of your life. Total projected taxes in 35 years, $775,000-823,000.

If you pay $500 a month into a non-taxed deferred plan you'll pay 70,000 in taxes over 35 years of work. Nothing during 35 years of retirement. At 1 million in the fund, you'd have $75,000 a year tax-free.

36 posted on 10/22/2008 10:12:15 AM PDT by nufsed
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To: meyer
Robbing people of their savings will NOT stand

Watch.

It will.

We are rapidly becoming a socialist nation. In socialism, little attention is paid to private property.

37 posted on 10/22/2008 10:12:35 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Secondhand Aztlan Smoke causes drug addiction obesity in global warming cancer immigrant terrorists.)
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To: Terry Mross

see my 36. Pay the tax now and no tax in the future.


38 posted on 10/22/2008 10:13:04 AM PDT by nufsed
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To: cherry

Just read this line from the above link to see whose money it is:

““I want to spend our nation’s dollar for retirement security better. Everybody would now be covered” if the plan were adopted, Ghilarducci said.”


39 posted on 10/22/2008 10:13:46 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, then writes again.)
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To: Bodhi1
If democrats do get a huge majority on election day, I wouldn't be surprised it they don't go after a percentage of funds in retirement accounts such as IRA's/401-k's. Probably the excuse they will use is, shoring up social security. And in typical Obama logic, it's just taking from the "haves - people who set aside a nest egg and prepare for retirement" and giving to the "have nots - people who choose not to save"

Retirement accounts are a HUGE pool of money (trillions of dollars) that is just sitting there waiting to be "spread around". My guess would be that democrats would either require 5% of all retirement accounts be "invested" in social security (in reality it would go into general revenue and SS would get more IOU's) that they will use to fund the rest of their social spending schemes. And the worst part is, you are pretty much held hostage, because if you try to pull your money out to avoid the tax, you get hit with early withdrawal penalties...

40 posted on 10/22/2008 10:15:27 AM PDT by apillar
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