low-calorie primitive not taxed too much

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3741906

Okay, there's some stretching of numbers here.

SoCalDem  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 07:08 PM
Original message

We are NOT "taxed too much".. do the math..
   
We are a one-paycheck couple..no kids at home..our bring home pay is a fixed amount, so it's rather easy to figure..

subtract take-home from gross, and everything else is "tax" or Fica or healthcare cost not paid by employer...


59,200 gross
53,546.32 take home (includes our share of 401-k deductions)

That works out to 5653.60 difference (inclues state & fed tax)

We got back $1500 at tax-time
leaves $4,153.60 divided by 12 months= $346.13 a month ..

I know people whose cable & cell phone bills total as much or more..

Add in the $1200.00 we got from Uncle Sam, and it works out to $246.13 a month......

....

What's at stake here, is the fact that as people get MORE, they don;t want to also PAY more in taxes.. it's just that simple..

It's what you have LEFT OVER that counts.. How many houses can one be in at any one time? How many cars can a person drive at the same time? How many pairs of shoes can one wear at the same time?

How much money is enough money?

For most of us "middlers", all we want is to be able to pay our bills, have a little extra to buy some feel-good trinkets, save a little, and most of us do NOT mind paying our air share.. It's the RICH ones who want to keep all THEY have, AND grab yours too..

They EXPECT the government to provide the infrastructure that allows them a stable place to do business. they want the cheapest workers they can find, so the can keep more, and yet the expect their workers, and the workers of their fellow "corporatists" to buy enough of their product, to keep their bottom line healthy..

They want us to be grateful to them for the opportunity to work for them, and yet the also want all of US to assume most, if not all, of the risks they take, and they expect all of us to pay for the "mistakes" they make. They scream and holler when they face the possibility of having to pay taxes on the profits they make..

Our paychecks are our "profit", and we pay taxes on them, ..They get paychecks AND profits, and don't want to pay taxes on EITHER..and they even write off OUR paychecks as a cost of doing business..(theirs included)..

I dunno where to begin.

And so I'll stop by reminding the low-calorie primitive that if she doesn't think she's paying enough taxes, there's nothing to stop her from writing a check to both the U.S. and California treasuries.

I'll let the primitives handle the matter of nonpayroll taxes &c.

MiltonF  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 07:17 PM
Response to Original message

2. Where do you live because I want taxes like that.
   
Here in Oregon I think about 40% of my earnings are paid straight out in taxes before I even get to deposit a check in the bank. Then add in Property taxes and all the hidden taxes and it's quite a bit of money.

Now I can deal with paying my current taxes but if someone wants to increase them I say hell no, they need to start taxing the wealthy and get off the backs of the poor and middle class, it's pretty messed up that we have someone like Warren Buffet who is taxed about 15% with no loopholes while his secretary is taxed around 33%. Even he says it's jacked up that he pays so little while his secretary who needs the money is taxed so high.

Oregone  (702 posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #4

14. How much was your sales tax?
   
Personally more than tax, we get killed by inflation from the last few years. Add on sales tax and it can make things uncomfortable.

SoCalDem  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #14

17. 7.75%

Oregone  (702 posts) Wed Aug-06-08 11:06 PM
Response to Reply #17

18. Well, add that in. For some reason I pay a lot more in taxes than you...
   
I make a tad more, have 5% 401K, one dependent, $7K mortgage deduction, a home office, etc. (and $1.2K property tax instead of sales tax in addition to this)

Its a straight 20% out of my paycheck, with no money back at the end of the year.

MorningGlow  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:26 PM
Response to Original message

15. It's also the fact that most people do not understand how our country is set up
   
I just don't understand how so many people expect something for nothing. The deal is you pay some money into "the big pot", and the government gives you smooth roads, public schools, bridges that don't fall down (usually), etc. You know, that whole "government of the people, by the people, and for the people thing"? Yeah, that. How does this concept elude some folks?

Hmmm.  The morning glory primitive must have been thinking of the subway cat.

ileus  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:49 PM
Response to Original message

16. what about these? Property,Real Estate,Petrol,Phone,Cell Phone,Food,Sales, ect...
   
I've always said my payroll taxes aren't shit compared to all the hidden taxes I we all pay on day to day items. Sure most of these items could be considered luxury items back in the 1800's

[Chris_]

The US government was nice enough to include a line on the tax forms for a voluntary contribution, isn't it odd none of these people, the jackass billionaire included, can bother themselves to put their money where their mouths are?

[JohnnyReb]

The DUmmies should be self-employed just one time. I mean, run a real, above board, business, not the un-taxed dope or under the table sideline they're in now but a real, honest to goodness, tax paying business. ...talk about making converts.

[Chris_]

The DUmmies should be self-employed just one time. I mean, run a real, above board, business, not the un-taxed dope or under the table sideline they're in now but a real, honest to goodness, tax paying business. ...talk about making converts.

Amen. When we went into business back in 2001 I thought my wife was going to go into cardiac arrest when she heard how much we were to pay in taxes. Before that time she was somewhat left-leaning when it came to entitlement type programs. The tax payouts have helped to constantly push her to the right.

[Carl]

Now I can deal with paying my current taxes but if someone wants to increase them I say hell no, they need to start taxing the wealthy and get off the backs of the poor and middle class, it's pretty messed up that we have someone like Warren Buffet who is taxed about 15% with no loopholes while his secretary is taxed around 33%. Even he says it's jacked up that he pays so little while his secretary who needs the money is taxed so high.

I have no idea if those percentages are right but my gut feeling is no.

Regardless,if Buffet has said that one would think that is something the DUmmies would be all in a rage over....after all here is one of the wealthiest men in the world bemoaning that an employee needs more money and blaming the government for it rather then the person (him) that compensates them.

Whoops,forgot...Buffet is a lib.

[franksolich]

Now I can deal with paying my current taxes but if someone wants to increase them I say hell no, they need to start taxing the wealthy and get off the backs of the poor and middle class, it's pretty messed up that we have someone like Warren Buffet who is taxed about 15% with no loopholes while his secretary is taxed around 33%. Even he says it's jacked up that he pays so little while his secretary who needs the money is taxed so high.

I have no idea if those percentages are right but my gut feeling is no.

Regardless,if Buffet has said that one would think that is something the DUmmies would be all in a rage over....after all here is one of the wealthiest men in the world bemoaning that an employee needs more money and blaming the government for it rather then the person (him) that compensates them.

Whoops,forgot...Buffet is a lib.

That appears to be a lie.

With no loopholes, Buffet would pay about 33% in income taxes.

And the secretary would pay about 15% in income taxes.

Somebody lied big time about this, turning it around.

[USA4ME]

SoCalDem

How much money is enough money?

You see, the difference between you and me, SoCalDem, is that you ask that question of your fellow citizens while I ask that same question of the State and Federal gov't.

.

[Texacon]

Now I can deal with paying my current taxes but if someone wants to increase them I say hell no, they need to start taxing the wealthy and get off the backs of the poor and middle class, it's pretty messed up that we have someone like Warren Buffet who is taxed about 15% with no loopholes while his secretary is taxed around 33%. Even he says it's jacked up that he pays so little while his secretary who needs the money is taxed so high.

I have no idea if those percentages are right but my gut feeling is no.

Regardless,if Buffet has said that one would think that is something the DUmmies would be all in a rage over....after all here is one of the wealthiest men in the world bemoaning that an employee needs more money and blaming the government for it rather then the person (him) that compensates them.

Whoops,forgot...Buffet is a lib.

That appears to be a lie.

With no loopholes, Buffet would pay about 33% in income taxes.

And the secretary would pay about 15% in income taxes.

Somebody lied big time about this, turning it around.

Actually Frank that is probably correct.  I say probably because I don't know but you have to consider those in the Buffet class are usually taking their money out by means of capital gains not payroll. 

Again, I'm no tax consulant but that appears right unless someone has another idea?

Of course, Buffet's 15% compared to most others 33% is going to be .... well a whole lot more.

KC

[franksolich]

Now I can deal with paying my current taxes but if someone wants to increase them I say hell no, they need to start taxing the wealthy and get off the backs of the poor and middle class, it's pretty messed up that we have someone like Warren Buffet who is taxed about 15% with no loopholes while his secretary is taxed around 33%. Even he says it's jacked up that he pays so little while his secretary who needs the money is taxed so high.

I have no idea if those percentages are right but my gut feeling is no.

Regardless,if Buffet has said that one would think that is something the DUmmies would be all in a rage over....after all here is one of the wealthiest men in the world bemoaning that an employee needs more money and blaming the government for it rather then the person (him) that compensates them.

Whoops,forgot...Buffet is a lib.

That appears to be a lie.

With no loopholes, Buffet would pay about 33% in income taxes.

And the secretary would pay about 15% in income taxes.

Somebody lied big time about this, turning it around.

Actually Frank that is probably correct.  I say probably because I don't know but you have to consider those in the Buffet class are usually taking their money out by means of capital gains not payroll. 

Again, I'm no tax consulant but that appears right unless someone has another idea?

Of course, Buffet's 15% compared to most others 33% is going to be .... well a whole lot more.

KC

Well, two things:

It says "no loopholes," so one assumes straight income.

And a secretary would have to be making a Hell of a lot of money to be taxed at 33%.

[Texacon]

Well, two things:

It says "no loopholes," so one assumes straight income.

And a secretary would have to be making a Hell of a lot of money to be taxed at 33%.

I agree completely.  Of course ... Buffet could easily afford to pay a secretary what it would take to be in the 33% bracket and it would be another write off for him.

I have never considered being paid solely on your capital gains as a loophole though so I can see where there was some confusion.  Heck, I hope to be there someday myself!   

KC

[DumbAss Tanker]

SoCalDem  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 07:08 PM
Original message

We are NOT "taxed too much".. do the math..
   
We are a one-paycheck couple..no kids at home..our bring home pay is a fixed amount, so it's rather easy to figure..

subtract take-home from gross, and everything else is "tax" or Fica or healthcare cost not paid by employer...


59,200 gross
53,546.32 take home (includes our share of 401-k deductions)

That works out to 5653.60 difference (inclues state & fed tax)

This idiot is either a very unclear writer, a liar, or does not understand how to read his W2.  That's in the ballpark of how much Federal income tax would be withheld from a gross income that size, but EXCLUSIVE of FICA, State income tax, and minor items like Medicare and Unemployment deductions.

[NHSparky]

Waitthe****upasecondnowthere....

Dude in the OP makes $59,200, but only pays $5653.60 in state AND federal taxes (part of the OP confused me--taxable income is that AFTER 401(k), medical/dental/LTD deductions)?  So are they paying taxes on the $59K or some lesser amount?  And what about their FICA/SSA witholdings?  Sounds to me like that tax figure barely even covers the 7.65 percent, so federal and state taxes would be almost nil.

And even still, so far this year I've paid nearly TRIPLE that $5653.60 figure in federal taxes ALONE.  So far this year my FICA has been over $5K.  By the end of this year I'll be looking at a federal tax witholding of over $25K.  Fortunately for me I live in a state with no sales/income tax, but my property taxes are about $5K, and my vehicle registration runs nearly $600/year.  And no, I haven't come anywhere near six figures yet.  I might break it this year.  MAYBE.

Sounds like someone is taking 433 deductions they may/may not be entitled to, or they WAY overstated their income.  I see balls...lots and lots of balls.

[franksolich]

SoCalDem  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 07:08 PM
Original message

We are NOT "taxed too much".. do the math..
   
We are a one-paycheck couple..no kids at home..our bring home pay is a fixed amount, so it's rather easy to figure..

subtract take-home from gross, and everything else is "tax" or Fica or healthcare cost not paid by employer...


59,200 gross
53,546.32 take home (includes our share of 401-k deductions)

That works out to 5653.60 difference (inclues state & fed tax)

This idiot is either a very unclear writer, a liar, or does not understand how to read his W2.  That's in the ballpark of how much Federal income tax would be withheld from a gross income that size, but EXCLUSIVE of FICA, State income tax, and minor items like Medicare and Unemployment deductions.

Bingo.

I was waiting for a primitive to point that out.