Go home IRS you're drunk.

[Jason B]

My wife and I try to keep our withholdings aimed to a point where we either receive little back, or pay little at filing time.

That way we get to keep use of most of OUR money during the year, and the government doesn't get to use it for free.

Last year was bad for us on many financial/job fronts, and so we got a few hundred back in Fed and State each. We can live with that.

That's the way to do it.
Many people think a big refund is a gift from the gub'ment.

Sponsored

 

[OFC Ranger]

My wife and I try to keep our withholdings aimed to a point where we either receive little back, or pay little at filing time.

That way we get to keep use of most of OUR money during the year, and the government doesn't get to use it for free.

Last year was bad for us on many financial/job fronts, and so we got a few hundred back in Fed and State each. We can live with that.

Yup, there is where I am going to this year. Rather owe some that get a paltry amount back.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I can't remember the last time I got a refund from the Fed.

I usually get a small state refund.

The state refund doesn't come close to paying the federal owe.

A couple of years ago I had to do the ID game.

I had to go to the SS office in the nearest big city.

Waiting area was packed, waited all day, and I believe I was the only one there that spoke English.

When I finally got to the window, I was told that the notarized copy of my birth certificate wasn't good enough as I had to get one that THEY requested and then pick it up and bring it.

Of course theirs had a fee attached.

 

[subquark]

You may want to do some investigation to make sure you haven’t been the victim of a fraud, i.e. that someone hasn’t already tried to file a return using your ssn and personal information. Unfortunately, it’s a common scam.

Several years back, I tried TurboTax and paid $300 for the small business version. I liked using it to fill in the info but when I went to submit it, it said I had already filed (and we had not, we always have to pay, so we were sure).

It threw an error that said it was filed and with some unique gov number assigned to all taxpayers (it wasn't the SSN, some other stoopid tracking number).

We were in a massive panic, but thanks to Googling, we found out that 80-90% of the folks with the same error were actually not compromised. But TurboTax wouldn't submit, so we did it by hand ...

And we do it ourselves, by hand, ever since ...

And someone mentioned VAT. I live in the States but we ship to England and it took me a year to get a UK VAT number - which you need or you can't ship to England. Bah, now I need to get an EU VAT. Problem is that it isn't made for very small businesses. Any paid service is a few hundred per month and we might send a dozen games a month to the UK and EU.

Canada has GST but, fortunately, they have a system that allows me to pay that on behalf of the person ordering from Canada.

@DukeCanBuildit can touch on the awesomeness of GST ...

Meanwhile, I do enjoy living in New Hampshire where we don't have a state income tax, no sales tax, and I can ride a motorcycle without a helmet and don't need to wear a seatbelt in Soupie ... free to be violently ejected through the windshield - Live Free or Die!

 

[MountainGoat]

Come on guys we need to pay taxes to fund the government. Oh wait...

I love how the other guy is doing the awkward look monkey puppet meme.

Meanwhile, I do enjoy living in New Hampshire where we don't have a state income tax, no sales tax, and I can ride a motorcycle without a helmet and don't need to wear a seatbelt in Soupie ... free to be violently ejected through the windshield - Live Free or Die!

I hear they don't even require car insurance there! Would be nice for me since I've never had an at fault accident and so have been paying countless thousands and now rising insurance rates my whole life for nothing. I get pissed off at my insurance every 6 months now.

 

[subquark]

Come on guys we need to pay taxes to fund the government. Oh wait...

I love how the other guy is doing the awkward look monkey puppet meme.


I hear they don't even require car insurance there! Would be nice for me since I've never had an at fault accident and so have been paying countless thousands and now rising insurance rates my whole life for nothing. I get pissed off at my insurance every 6 months now.

I think you have to prove that you have $10K available in the place of insurance.

I'm with you though, I've never had a car accident (I had 2 motorcycle ones, both my fault and one by myself) and I've never had a ticket in 50 years of driving (and dumping!).

But I do carry insurance ... =(

 

[MountainGoat]

I think you have to prove that you have $10K available in the place of insurance.

I'm with you though, I've never had a car accident (I had 2 motorcycle ones, both my fault and one by myself) and I've never had a ticket in 50 years of driving (and dumping!).

But I do carry insurance ... =(

Yeah I had motorcycle accidents but I was racing. That is another kind of BS because there is no coverage (vehicle or health) unless you have very expensive racing insurance. It was a given if you go to the hospital you tell them you fell off a mountain bike. I know someone who had a pretty good Moto-X accident and he told them had a fall at the Picatinny Arsenal Military base. This is someone who was never in the military. Must've been the painkillers talking.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Several years back, I tried TurboTax and paid $300 for the small business version. I liked using it to fill in the info but when I went to submit it, it said I had already filed (and we had not, we always have to pay, so we were sure).

It threw an error that said it was filed and with some unique gov number assigned to all taxpayers (it wasn't the SSN, some other stoopid tracking number).

We were in a massive panic, but thanks to Googling, we found out that 80-90% of the folks with the same error were actually not compromised. But TurboTax wouldn't submit, so we did it by hand ...

And we do it ourselves, by hand, ever since ...

And someone mentioned VAT. I live in the States but we ship to England and it took me a year to get a UK VAT number - which you need or you can't ship to England. Bah, now I need to get an EU VAT. Problem is that it isn't made for very small businesses. Any paid service is a few hundred per month and we might send a dozen games a month to the UK and EU.

Canada has GST but, fortunately, they have a system that allows me to pay that on behalf of the person ordering from Canada.

@DukeCanBuildit can touch on the awesomeness of GST ...

Meanwhile, I do enjoy living in New Hampshire where we don't have a state income tax, no sales tax, and I can ride a motorcycle without a helmet and don't need to wear a seatbelt in Soupie ... free to be violently ejected through the windshield - Live Free or Die!

Ugh GST.

5% tax on most goods and services, in addition to any provincial taxes - usually applied to the same goods and services. Depending in which province you live, you’re paying 13-15% in sales taxes. Except @Danager, who lives in a tax haven.

Income tax is typically higher here than in the U.S. but not out of line with other countries with similar social programs or public healthcare. Not off the charts like in Scandinavian countries but it’s relatively high compared to my friends in the states. Of course, like everyone else, I wish it was lower.

The best way to minimize these things is by being self-employed or by having a legitimate side hustle or owning an investment property you also use for vacations (my model). A smart accountant also helps - they know shit that you don’t.

David’s a savvy business person who takes advantage of the online world to make international shipping easier for him and his clients. He’s not just some NH dump runner, you know. ?

But, then again, he comes from some good Canadian roots. ???

 

[Danager]

Ugh GST.

5% tax on most goods and services, in addition to any provincial taxes - usually applied to the same goods and services. Depending in which province you live, you’re paying 13-15% in sales taxes. Except @Danager, who lives in a tax haven.

Income tax is typically higher here than in the U.S. but not out of line with other countries with similar social programs or public healthcare. Not off the charts like in Scandinavian countries but it’s relatively high compared to my friends in the states. Of course, like everyone else, I wish it was lower.

The best way to minimize these things is by being self-employed or by having a legitimate side hustle or owning an investment property you also use for vacations (my model). A smart accountant also helps - they know shit that you don’t.

David’s a savvy business person who takes advantage of the online world to make international shipping easier for him and his clients. He’s not just some NH dump runner, you know. ?

But, then again, he comes from some good Canadian roots. ???

I miss Klein and the refund cheques he would mail out just because.

Did you buy a new protective cup in preparation for the changes to capital gains taxes?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I miss Klein and the refund cheques he would mail out just because.

Did you buy a new protective cup in preparation for the changes to capital gains taxes?

Actually, I sold my vacation property last year (cottage on PEI). I sold it for more than double what I paid for it and was ready to take a big capital gain hit. My accountant knew better and surprised me.

If I had waited, it would be a different story. Timing is everything!

Sponsored