Today I love the IRS

[BuckNaked]

My ex SIL spent her EIC on a **** job. Yes, a **** job. Oh it's served her well-she shows everyone her rack every chance she gets.

EIC needs to either be done away with or the money should go into an account for the recipients' childrens' college fund. EIC should NOT go towards someone's **** job.

OMG!!!

I'd be happy to donate some **** if she'd give me some of the money back.

 

[wvjules]

This thread has been enlightening. Now I'm going to go get my food stamps and head out to the store to buy some really expensive meats. Hopefully my welfare check will be in the mailbox monday 'cause I have some smokes and beer to buy for the projects bbq next weekend (can't buy those with foodstamps).

 

[BuckNaked]

I guess I missed it wvjules, where did anyone say that at all? I think it's been said over and over that people would be foolish to not take the money if it's there, it's just that some of us think it shouldn't be available in the first place, at least not the part that sends back more than was paid in.

 

[N.Bailey]

This thread has been enlightening. Now I'm going to go get my food stamps and head out to the store to buy some really expensive meats. Hopefully my welfare check will be in the mailbox monday 'cause I have some smokes and beer to buy for the projects bbq next weekend (can't buy those with foodstamps).

It's sad, but you don't have to look beyond the ground beef to find that expensive meat.

 

[wvjules]

I totally agree that it shouldn't be there in the first place. But it is. And I'm offended being referred to as a welfare receipient because I qualify for it. I don't abuse the system, I don't recieve food stamps, I don't get any federal assistance. And remarkably this welfare recepeint actually works a full-time job. And I do that job so well that next year I'll make more money which will disqualify me from the yearly glorified welfare check. I'm tickled pink about that. So this time next year, you can check my name off of the welfare list.

 

[vivilasvegas]

quick question, what is the AMT tax? How do you know if you are supposed to pay it? I file as single and was able to claim someone as an exemption this year. (not a child).

I did turbo-tax and it did not alert me to this, but just covering all my bases!

 

[N.Bailey]

I totally agree that it shouldn't be there in the first place. But it is. And I'm offended being referred to as a welfare receipient because I qualify for it. I don't abuse the system, I don't recieve food stamps, I don't get any federal assistance. And remarkably this welfare recepeint actually works a full-time job. And I do that job so well that next year I'll make more money which will disqualify me from the yearly glorified welfare check. I'm tickled pink about that. So this time next year, you can check my name off of the welfare list.

Personally, I think you'd be foolish not to take advantage of it. I'm one who doesn't feel it should be there to begin with, but I don't feel it's a glorified welfare check and I seriously doubt you purposed the tax legislation for it to become law. Enjoy your refund! I think everyone who is opposed would take advantage of it if they qualified too.

 

[N.Bailey]

quick question, what is the AMT tax? How do you know if you are supposed to pay it? I file as single and was able to claim someone as an exemption this year. (not a child).

I did turbo-tax and it did not alert me to this, but just covering all my bases!

Try this:

http://www.fairmark.com/amt/

 

[BuckNaked]

I think everyone who is opposed would take advantage of it if they qualified too.

No doubt, but that wouldn't change my opinion of what it is.

 

[bettyann29]

No doubt, but that wouldn't change my opinion of what it is.

So with that statement you are saying if you were eligible for it you'd take advantage of it.. Yet you continue to think its a glorified welfare check? -- So why are you looking down on others who are eligible for it and take advantage of it? That doesnt make sense to me..

 

[tiggersmom2]

So with that statement you are saying if you were eligible for it you'd take advantage of it.. Yet you continue to think its a glorified welfare check? -- So why are you looking down on others who are eligible for it and take advantage of it? That doesnt make sense to me..

I'm not Bucknaked and don't assume to speak for her. I think she has been pretty clear, as many of the other posters have, that we don't have a problem with people that take adavantage of the EIC but we DO have a problem that it exists. You should not get back more than you pay in....period. Anything more is a handout - this is where the welfare reference comes in.

 

[BuckNaked]

So with that statement you are saying if you were eligible for it you'd take advantage of it.. Yet you continue to think its a glorified welfare check? -- So why are you looking down on others who are eligible for it and take advantage of it? That doesnt make sense to me..

Where did I say I looked down on them? I do think the "I deserve it" attitude is ridiculous though.

I said I would probably claim it, but I actually don't know if I would or not. I've seen a couple of situations here that to me are quite different, and for *me*, it would depend.

wvjules, for example, is a single mom, working and making an income that qualifies her for the EITC. That's one situation, and one in which I would take it, just as she has.

Another situation is the OP, where she is basically reporting only half of the income in the home, and qualifying for the EITC that way. That's another situation, one in which I can't see myself in, but in which I probably wouldn't take it.

Then you have the military spouses chiming in about how they get it because their spouses served overseas, making the same amount of money they did in previous years, yet since part of it is not taxable, they are able to claim EITC. They didn't need it in the past to get by, but suddenly they do. I don't think I would take it in that case either.

 

[poohandwendy]

Love your tag- I'm totally feeling the support you give to the Armed Forces right now.

Glad to hear you are feeling it, because I do support our Armed Forces completely. This has nothing to do with me thinking our service people deserve less. I believe they should receive better pay and better benefits than they do right now.

I also believe that they should pay federal taxes. I believe that everyone should pay federal taxes. IMO, everyone should be contributing, at least a small amount. And absolutely, IMHO, no one should be paying no federal taxes AND receiving a check just because they meet specific criteria.

Truth be know, I am all for a flat tax or at least finding a way to eliminate the yearly tax return completely. It does nothing but shift the burden of financing the govt away from the rich and poor and dumps it on the middle class. It is an unfair system and one I totally disagree with.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Glad to hear you are feeling it, because I do support our Armed Forces completely. This has nothing to do with me thinking our service people deserve less. I believe they should receive better pay and better benefits than they do right now.

I also believe that they should pay federal taxes. I believe that everyone should pay federal taxes. IMO, everyone should be contributing, at least a small amount. And absolutely, IMHO, no one should be paying no federal taxes AND receiving a check just because they meet specific criteria.

Truth be know, I am all for a flat tax or at least finding a way to eliminate the yearly tax return completely. It does nothing but shift the burden of financing the govt away from the rich and poor and dumps it on the middle class. It is an unfair system and one I totally disagree with.

AMEN!!! You are right on Wendy.

 

[bettyann29]

You didnt say specifically that you look down on people but when you said its a "glorified welfare check", I take that to be that you are looking down on people.. Everyones circumstances are different and who are we to judge? I'm just going to agree to disagree because you obviously feel the way you do and I feel the way I do.. as does everyone else..

 

[poohandwendy]

Everyones circumstances are different and who are we to judge?

IMHO, taxation should not be determined by circumstance, I think that is the problem.

It should be determined by income amounts...period. You make X amount, you are taxed X amount. Not you qualify for this or that because of this or that circumstance.

 

[BuckNaked]

You didnt say specifically that you look down on people but when you said its a "glorified welfare check", I take that to be that you are looking down on people..

Then you took it wrong.

My view on it is really pretty simple and straightforward. Any amount that comes back that is more than what was withheld is a government handout. It's money that wasn't earned, and is therefore a form of welfare. Do some people need it? I'm sure they do, but that still doesn't mean I think it's right. The problem to me isn't the people that are taking it but rather the fact that it is there to take in the first place.

 

[Longsx3]

It is actually only tax free in a combat zone up to a certain amount. They took it out of DH's pay, then gave "most" of it back. They did keep some. (DH is an 0-5)

??

While serving in combat zone all enlisted pay is tax exempt, for officers their pay is exempt up to the equivalent of the highest enlisted members pay. For the Air Force that is the Chief Master Sgt of the Air Force which is currently $6499.60.

 

[Longsx3]

Then you have the military spouses chiming in about how they get it because their spouses served overseas, making the same amount of money they did in previous years, yet since part of it is not taxable, they are able to claim EITC. They didn't need it in the past to get by, but suddenly they do. I don't think I would take it in that case either.

Military Members downrange are not the only ones not paying US taxes, if you work overseas the first 84K isn't taxable. So if my DH worked for IBM for a year in Europe and I stayed back in the states wroking part time at Borders, I could collest EIC too.

 

[Longsx3]

Glad to hear you are feeling it, because I do support our Armed Forces completely. This has nothing to do with me thinking our service people deserve less. I believe they should receive better pay and better benefits than they do right now.

Truth be know, I am all for a flat tax or at least finding a way to eliminate the yearly tax return completely. It does nothing but shift the burden of financing the govt away from the rich and poor and dumps it on the middle class. It is an unfair system and one I totally disagree with.

You want abolish the benefit of tax free pay while in a combat zone yet you want better benefits for the Armed Forces.... what better benefits do you suggest?


I currently live in a country that has a flat tax (16%) and I don't believe I would ever want this in the US. BTW to keep tourist coming they are exempt from VAT and can get it refunded.