Total Serious Happy Thread

[Ghoulish Delight]

Gotta get started on that. I think almost everything I need is accessible electronically.

I was reminded yesterday that state tax refunds are taxable. That is such utter bullsh*t.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

W2's arrived early, did taxes, filed and awaiting refund(s), in record time. Enough the splurge on something for the apartment and pay off 1 credit card. Squee!

Getting a big tax refund is just you providing an interest free loan to the federal and/or state government. You might want to think about adjusting your withholding's for 2012.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Getting a big tax refund is just you providing an interest free loan to the federal and/or state government. You might want to think about adjusting your withholding's for 2012.

Having been hosed on taxes multiple times for various reasons, I'd rather give them an interest free loan than have to come up with a large amount I didn't plan on.

(Maddie's Dad was notorious for filling out the with-holding wrong and we'd end up screwed. An employer forgot to withhold anything to the state one year. Unexpected unemployment)

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Gotta get started on that. I think almost everything I need is accessible electronically.

I was reminded yesterday that state tax refunds are taxable. That is such utter bullsh*t.

Why? It should only be taxed if you claimed local taxes paid as a deduction last year and then got a refund. That refund means you took too large of a deduction and had additional never taxed income this year (the refund). Makes sense that you'd have to correct for that.

If you didn't deduct local taxes last year, your refund won't be taxed this year.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ah, that makes sense. I don't think I took a deduction, but I'll have to look carefully at last year's and see.

[Alex]

According to FTB you should receive a 1099-G from them if you did claim taxes as a deduction and then received a refund.

(Of course, you should probably not rely on receiving something to know what you owe.)

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Getting a big tax refund is just you providing an interest free loan to the federal and/or state government. You might want to think about adjusting your withholding's for 2012.

As opposed to the .25% interest I could be making in a savings account? I would rather have the padding and get a small windfall every year than to have to write a check on April 15.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Getting a big tax refund is just you providing an interest free loan to the federal and/or state government. You might want to think about adjusting your withholding's for 2012.

I hear you, but, I've never been known to be a whiz when it comes to smart finances.

As a single person more often than not, I always seem to get hosed at tax time. I have a little extra taken out through the year, just in case.

Maybe this year I will adjust that, I'm just as happy to break even. I just hate coming up with oodles of extra dough if I screw something up.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

As opposed to the .25% interest I could be making in a savings account? I would rather have the padding and get a small windfall every year than to have to write a check on April 15.

Don't forget to add in the finance charges on the credit card balance.

I use smartypig.com to move a small amount each month so I still get the "windfall". In fact (true story) my 2011 balance is paying for my trip to DLR next month.

[Betty]

My second mammogram still showed a spot on my right boob. Had an ultrasound done and they said it is lymph tissue and benign.

Yay!