It’s Wednesday so that means it’s question time. It’s time to ponder and then answer just one question. Okay, you can add all you want as a reason for your answer too. We’d all like that.
Here’s this weeks question: In the U.S. today is tax day, when your money to keep the government running (local and federal) is due. How do you feel about writing those checks?
We’ve a friend that just bought a large property to keep from paying so much taxes. What he fails to see is that he’s spending more money on the property than he would on the taxes. I just don’t get that. I will say that I don’t like where some of my tax dollars are spent, but that’s another post altogether.
Living overseas we get an automatic extension, but like most people taxes are not my favorite subject. We have to pay taxes in two countries now. It's complicated and expensive.
Yikes on paying taxes twice. That doesn't seem right. 🙁
Tax day for me was actually a few months ago. I always file in February. Just another day in Paradise. Except now I also have to pay for Obama Care, which is basically like another tax because I pay it but it wont pay a damn thing unless I have catastophic health situation. That sounds like Lose-Lose to me. But then that's a sore subject for me… best left to non-discussion.
big hugs xoxo
There are many here that don't like their coverage under Obama Care. It's not all it's cracked up to be. 🙁
It's also slightly different here but not anything to look forward to heheh!
Have a taxtastic day Sandee :-h
Ours are already paid so I'm not having a bad day Steve. 🙂
There is legitimate work governments need to do, and since that work is to benefit all the people who live in a country, there should be taxes paid to fund that work from all the people.
How the government collects it (sales tax, VAT, income tax, etc.) and what are the legitimate works of government are different discussions.
It wouldn't bother me to pay taxes if i knew the money was being used correctly.
We are borrowing way, way more than we are taking in. Way way more. 🙂
I'm with messymimi. Taxes are necessary in order for the government to do certain things, like build roads and have an army. However, the way it's done, the amount that is taken, and the things the government think are necessary is a whole different discussion.
A way different discussion. 🙂
Well, since I am older than dirt, I don't have to pay taxes since my only income is Social Security. And that isn't much. But I do think it is a necessary evil. Sandee, you and Zane and my favorite, Little Bit have a great day.
Well, at least you don't have that aggravation. 🙂
I think they could spend my money better, but some governments don't let you keep anything!
This is true. I think most working Americans give the first three months of their salary to taxes. It may be more than that now. 🙂
I was in charge of scraping together the payment this year (we take turns). We live in a state that takes city, state, and federal. Not fun a'tall.
I live in California and they tax everything. And often. So I can so relate. 🙂
We spend our money wisely and balance our checkbooks, living within our means. The guvmint is now a sugar daddy to too many, acting as provider more than protector as designed. Arrrgghh.
Big hugs from soggy nawth Jawjah, honey…
We do the same honey. We've always had a budget and we follow that budget. We do have too many takers though. 🙂
It's a little different here in Canada. The arrangements are quite different and it's kind of hard to explain. At times I'm confused. That's why my accountant does it for me.Thank God for her. She's does wonders for us.
Have a wonderful Wednesday Sandee. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Every country has their own system, but taking our money is always their objective. 🙂
I have never minded paying taxes for two reasons: !) If I'm paying taxes that means I'm making money, and 2) I want the kind of government that does things. Sure, if I could be in charge of how our taxes dollars are spent I'd make cuts in some places but I'd add in other places. We all have our pet peeves when it comes to how our taxes are spent but it's a necessary part of living in a civilized society.
Your first point has always been our mantra too. I just wish our government would work on the massive debt. 🙁
I will always pay my share, it's the right thing to do. Having said that I do love it when I don't owe MORE on 4/15! lol
smiles, bee
xoox
Me too honey. We wrote two checks this month. Bugger. 🙂
There's lots of things people do to avoid taxes but most realize you make it, you pay it. Even our client who had to pay in $1.5 million today understood! 🙂
Happy Tax Day Sandee! Scritches to Little Bit!
When you pay 1.5 million then you're making some serious money. 🙂
I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes because the money is necessary for our country to provide the services that we all expect in a first world country. Keywords here are FAIR SHARE. I wonder how some skells like Al Sharpton live with themselves when all they do is take and never give back. How he still has a lucrative job on MSNBC is a mystery to me.
Yes Al is a huge tax cheat, but no one seems to care much. 🙁
Too many in our country don't bother to know and would gladly follow in Sharpton's path. They don't care about fair play and never will. Free stuff is the mantra and that worries me.
Free stuff is worrying those of us that work. The ones with their hands out don't worry one bit. 🙁
Every year we end up getting a bit back since we have taxes withdrawn on a monthly basis from our pensions and Social Security…..however I resent how my money is squandered in some places and how the folks in WDC and Sacramento think they always need MORE. But as you said that is a whole "nother subject! Cheers!
We do quarterlies here and it does help. I can't imagine how much we'd have to cough up if we didn't. Not an option for us either because they tell us each year that we will pay quarterlies. 🙂
I don't like the gov taking my money and spending it as THEY see fit. If I want to contribute to a certain group of people or organization that should be my choice not theirs but as the Bible says, "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars.." The problem is "Ceasar" is, always has, and forever will, take more than his fair share and that's bs.
I do agree with you and my taxes is higher each year. It's way higher. 🙂
I recently watched a documentary that stated that in the US, there is no law stating we must pay federal income tax. The documentary also said that most, if not all of the federal income tax we pay goes toward debt (principal and interest) owed to the Federal Reserve, a private organization. I don't mind paying taxes, I just want it to go to the help the people of the United States, not bankers or private institutions.
Big business always seems to control the money don't they. Yet our government is always talking about the 1% and the 1% is being protected by the government. 🙁
My mom is afraid to make too much money because it will "throw her in a higher tax bracket." I've explained that even if she gets into a higher bracket, she'll STILL be making more money than she pays out in taxes. Someone did a whole demonstration of it out there but it was too complicated for me to grasp. Basically, even if you're paying 28 percent instead of 20 percent in taxes (just grabbing a number), it's still 28 percent of MORE money than you would have had a at 20 percent!
Taxes are very confusing anyway. You're right though. 🙂
We always file our taxes as soon as we both get our w-2's. Thankfully we always get a little something back from federal.
Getting something back is a very good thing. 🙂
I really don't mind paying my fair share of taxes, I just wish that the government would do a much better job of managing the funds. There is so much fraud, waste, and mismanagement that it's a wonder anything gets done.
They are pretty terrible about managing those funds indeed. 🙂
omg please. Don't get me started. We are STILL paying off $1700 that we owed in 2013 and we just paid $400 something for this year and combined my husband and I make nothing. We live paycheck to paycheck…it nauseates me.
And the taxes just keep going up and up. I can't believe what we paid this last year and our quarterlies are way higher for this year. WAY higher. 🙁
I don't think anyone likes paying taxes, but it would be far worse to live in a country where there is no effective government and you're under the threat of war.
We're heading in the direction now. Our government becomes less effective all the time. 🙁
I might get the boot for this, but a few years ago the hubs and I threw a pretty big tea party after the stimulus bill passed. Five thousand people showed up. I am fine paying taxes, just not always happy how the government spends it.
You won't get the boot from me. Most of my buddies are more on the conservative side than the liberal side. Not to worry. 🙂
I put in an extension yesterday afternoon. I was second in line at our P.O.
There were two for the IRS, the extension and then the first "extra" (1040-E) payment for this year. I will get just a little back from last year.
It's okay, as long as they spend OUR money wisely and not too much.
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I agree Jim, I agree. 🙂
I no longer have to pay taxes, YAY!
If that makes you happy then it's all good. 🙂
We had a small refund that was credited to next year's taxes
Next year will be a whole not her issue
Boy. Don't get me started! I cannot help but notice that when the United States first became the United States NO ONE HAD TAXES! Even as recently as the 1910's, 1920's taxes were occasional and usually only levied against the "haves". War time turned that all around when the president said "We need taxes because we are at war, and when we are no longer at war, we will go back to no taxes" … looks like we are still at war. When we collected NO taxes the government functioned fantastically and served all of the needs of the people: We had an army, aide programs, and and and and annnnnd! Now the government increases our taxes every year or so and STILL they can't balance the budget!!! It is RIDICULOUS to expect anyone to pay 25c off of every dollar when they themselves struggle to get by! I am very much in favor of living in this wonderful country, and I am very grateful for the things we have: like an army, a judicial system, police and firefighters, an extensive library system, free education, etc. etc. etc. … but everyone must operate within their budget. When the money runs out, you have to stop spending. This includes you, government. Let's go to Washington, Sandee. We'll clear this whole thing up in a week.
You and I feel much alike about this. We are in a big mess and of course it's all Bush's fault. This administration has outdone Bush by leaps and bounds. Bunch of crooks in Washington D.C. They line their pockets while stealing from our pockets. 🙁
We always get money back.
I hear some people say we shouldn't get money back.
But, it sure beats paying money in. Plus, those once a year checks are nice!
If you can get money back good for you. We pay, pay and pay. I'd love to get some money back. 🙂