I'm rich

2-14-02 | farmall

[farmall]

My wife and I are both public school teachers. We both teach additional day and after school classes. We both teach summer school and I have another job as a security guard. Combined total we earned @ $119,000 in 2001. IRS has already taken @ $19,000. It looks like they want another $ 3-5,000 on 4-15-02.

[Skooz]

Amen, brother. Me too.

[ironman]

That's the way to do it. My withholdings for Federal are so that i get a very small refund each year (like $200). For the state i live in, the witholdings change so little for each additional exemption even if I claimed 10, I'd still be having too much witheld. I get a fairly sizeable state refund each year and there is nothing i can do about it.

[vannrox]

I know. It is sad and frustrating. I wish that I could help you some. Unfortunately there isn't much that can be done.

[justin4bush]

So when you get more back than you put in, do you still chime in with the "I Pay taxes" argument?

[MeekOneGOP]

'Course when I finally get done with schoolin' all I'm gonna do and get some big fat job in the industrial R&D market I'll be singing a different tune I reckon...

I'm sure you will, Mad Max!! :o)

I've always said I'll be more than HAPPY to have a tax problem! !

[higgmeister]

The IRS is not evil, (Well maybe a few are)...Congress is the devil, they pass the laws.

I could have said be angry that the IRS exists!

[Praxeologue]

feed my family on jealousy

fat lazy socialist looking for someone else to make money for me

Oh yes, I was also accused of envy and sloth.

It hasn't been easy supporting the proposition that paying 25% of our income in federal income tax is about right.

[justin4bush]

Yeah, thats what hes saying. I can almost agree with getting all you pay in back, but I think it is ludicrous to get back more than is put in.

What angers me most is that a lot of these people argue that they pay taxes too. Maybe they pay sales tax, but that is limited to non food coupon transactions, voucher transactions, etc.

Some of us are just getting tired of carrying the load.

[goodieD]

no, mr. smartass, I do not live in a mississippi backwater, I live in California, we have a beautiful 3 bedroom home for 76K.. so sorry if certain people don't know how to live within their means... it isn't necessary to drive a new car, it isn't necessary for the kids to have the latest electronic toys.. we know what's important here.

[MeekOneGOP]

And if they're not caught, they can be the Governor of Arkansas!

ROFL! I award you the
Slam of the Day Award!
:o) I liked that!

[goodieD]

No, I"m not a liar. People who dig ditches make less than people who sit on their butts all day in an office. People who do construction work make less than architects. Physical labor is generally paid less than office work.

[no-s]

I don't think many people here get the point. Probably too much class envy and urban vs rural propaganda to overcome.

If you should you decide to work harder (multiple jobs) in order to capitalize, you are automatically penalized by the increase in marginal rate. This is an argument against a progressive income tax, because it penalizes capitalism. If you want to keep more, you must invest more time in finding reasons to prevent the gov't from keeping what they took. This is an argument against withholding, because it penalizes productivity.

Another thought...If you aspire to a lower marginal rate by making less, you should realize dollars you earn are effectively contributing less to the maintenance of civilization. Hey! I see it as the gov't bribing you with your own earnings to be satisfied with less! If everyone makes less, what do you think will happen to the tax structure? Offering the "simpler life" argument only makes sense for people who desire a "simpler life" - what about people like me, who aspire to "Capitalist Baron of Interplanetary Astronautical Engineering" and "Sophisticated Urban Intellectual" (it's not incompatible with conservative, BTW) or simply "Achieve inner peace AND improve my standard of living without ditching the kids (from both marriages), wife, and mother"? Somehow "Simpler Life" smacks of the Randist withdrawal from society in Atlas Shrugged.

Just sign me...40% effective marginal rate (damn california), 75% effective rate after all contributing indirect taxes and costs of taxes are met.

[LarryLied]

My husband is also a govt employee and pays the FICA taxes...

Everyone should or everyone should be able to opt out as 6.8 government employees have. Unfair that many in government escape while some in government and everyone in the private sector pay. Seems to violate the 14th amendment equal protection clause.

[dinodino]

And how exactly did you determine that it's reasonable for the government to take 25% of farmall's income, my income, and the incomes of everyone on this forum?

[Inkie]

And don't forget to factor in state income taxes, the AMT kicking in if you have too many charitable deductions, and capital gains taxes on gains made within mutual funds that you own but have not yet sold, and which, in fact, might actually be worth less than when you bought them.

[ironman]

Yes, I know any refund means you have given the gov an interest free loan. But in my case, for the State, there is nothing I can do about it. I know exactly my situation (am not a stupid ass).

[Flyer]

where would one wear a leather corset besides Renfest?

Were you looking for suggestions?

[EverOnward]

My husband and I hear you loud and clear. We're supporting a welfare family -- wish I had the time "they" have to enjoy life -- we're too busy slaving away our lives. We might have to look into the reparations business...