Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 INSIDE WASHINGTON: Taxpayers to get rude surprise INSIDE WASHINGTON: Millions of couples, retirees may have to repay some of Obama tax credit Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Writer On Thursday April 30, 2009, 6:55 pm EDT The government is going to want some of that money back. The tax credit is supposed to provide up to $400 to individuals and $800 to married couples as part of the massive economic recovery package enacted in February. Most workers started receiving the credit through small increases in their paychecks in the past month. But new tax withholding tables issued by the IRS could cause millions of taxpayers to get hundreds of dollars more than they are entitled to under the credit, money that will have to be repaid at tax time. At-risk taxpayers include a broad swath of the public: married couples in which both spouses work; workers with more than one job; retirees who have federal income taxes withheld from their pension payments and Social Security recipients with jobs that provide taxable income. The Internal Revenue Service acknowledges problems with the withholding tables but has done little to warn average taxpayers. "They need to get the Goodyear blimp out there on this," said Tom Ochsenschlager, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. For many, the new tax tables will simply mean smaller-than-expected tax refunds next year, IRS spokesman Terry Lemons said. The average refund was nearly $2,700 this year. But taxpayers who calculate their withholding so they get only small refunds could face an unwelcome tax bill next April, said Jackie Perlman, an analyst with the Tax Institute at H&R Block. "They are going to get a surprise," she said. Perlman's advice: check your federal withholding to make sure sufficient taxes are being taken out of your pay. If you are married and both spouses work, you might consider having taxes withheld at the higher rate for single filers. If you have multiple jobs, you might consider having extra taxes withheld by one of your employers. You can make that request with a Form W-4. The IRS has a calculator on its Web site to help taxpayers figure withholding. So do many private tax preparers. Obama has touted the tax credit as one of the big achievements of his first 100 days in office, boasting that 95 percent of working families will qualify in 2009 and 2010. The credit pays workers 6.2 percent of their earned income, up to a maximum of $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples who file jointly. Individuals making more $95,000 and couples making more than $190,000 are ineligible. The tax credit was designed to help boost the economy by getting more money to consumers in their regular paychecks. Employers were required to start using the new withholding tables by April 1. The tables, however, don't take into account several common categories of taxpayers, experts said. For example: --A single worker with two jobs making $20,000 a year at each job will get a $400 boost in take-home pay at each of them, for a total of $800. That worker, however, is eligible for a maximum credit of $400, so the remaining $400 will have to be paid back at tax time -- either through a smaller refund or a payment to the IRS. The IRS recognized there could be a similar problem for married couples if both spouses work, so it adjusted the withholding tables. The fix, however, was imperfect. -- A married couple with a combined income of $50,000 is eligible for an $800 credit. However, if both spouses work and make more than $13,000, the new withholding tables give them each a $600 boost -- for a total of $1,200. There were 33 million married couples in 2008 in which both spouses worked. That's 55 percent of all married couples, according to the Census Bureau. -- A single college student with a part-time job making $10,000 would get a $400 boost in pay. However, if that student is claimed as a dependent on a parent's tax return, she doesn't qualify for the credit and would have to repay it when she files next year. Some retirees face even bigger headaches. The Social Security Administration is sending out $250 payments to more than 50 million retirees in May as part of the economic stimulus package. The payments will go to people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, railroad retirement benefits or veteran's disability benefits. The payments are meant to provide a boost for people who don't qualify for the tax credit. However, they will go to retirees even if they have earned income and receive the credit. Those retirees will have the $250 payment deducted from their tax credit -- but not until they file their tax returns next year, long after the money may have been spent. Retirees who have federal income taxes withheld from pension benefits also are getting an income boost as a result of the new withholding tables. However, pension benefits are not earned income, so they don't qualify for the tax credit. That money will have to paid back next year when tax returns are filed. More than 20 million retirees and survivors receive payments from defined benefit pension plans, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. However, it is unclear how many have federal taxes withheld from their payments. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union raised concerns about the effect of the tax credit on pension payments in a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in March. Geithner responded that Treasury and IRS understood the concerns and were "exploring ways to mitigate that effect." Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the top Republican on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said Geithner has yet to respond to concerns raised by committee members. "So far we've got the, 'If we don't address this maybe it will go away' approach," Camp said. IRS withholding calculator: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beowulf Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Seems to be right in line with this administration, tout a new idea as a great plan but as soon as you dive into the substance you find you are getting screwed!! @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Seems to be right in line with this administration, tout a new idea as a great plan but as soon as you dive into the substance you find you are getting screwed!! @ Doesn't really seem like anyone is getting screwed, it's really your obligation to understand your taxes and you should take personal responsibility to understand what money you are entitled to. It's not like you're suddenly not getting the tax cut, you're just not entitled to it twice. It seems like a no brainer. @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Doesn't really seem like anyone is getting screwed, it's really your obligation to understand your taxes and you should take personal responsibility to understand what money you are entitled to. It's not like you're suddenly not getting the tax cut, you're just not entitled to it twice. It seems like a no brainer. @ So if I read what you wrote right, you want us all to become CPA's or tax accountants at the very least. Tell ya what, why don't you read the tax code book and get back with us on all the variables we should be watching for. @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 So if I read what you wrote right, you want us all to become CPA's or tax accountants at the very least. Tell ya what, why don't you read the tax code book and get back with us on all the variables we should be watching for. @ No I just think people should have common sense and realize that a tax break that has a 400 dollar limit should not be taken twice to get 800 dollars. You guys scream that our country is going the way of entitlement and no personal responsibility, sounds like that's exactly what you're asking for. ------------------------------ Doesn't sound to hard to understand when put that way eh? ------------------------------ As far as me reading the tax code? I've read enough to understand what my obligations are and to understand what I personally need to know to handle my own affairs. Not really that complicated if you have a high school education and are willing to take SOME time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Is anyone really surprised by this???? How many times is Obama going to have to lie, screw something up, or go back on a promise before people wake up. He was and is too inexperienced to be president. @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Please Al-Obama, no more "change we can believe in"...I'm all out of change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beowulf Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 No I just think people should have common sense and realize that a tax break that has a 400 dollar limit should not be taken twice to get 800 dollars. You guys scream that our country is going the way of entitlement and no personal responsibility, sounds like that's exactly what you're asking for. ------------------------------ Doesn't sound to hard to understand when put that way eh? ------------------------------ As far as me reading the tax code? I've read enough to understand what my obligations are and to understand what I personally need to know to handle my own affairs. Not really that complicated if you have a high school education and are willing to take SOME time. It wasnt so clear for the DIRECTOR OF THE IRS now was it? Tell ya what, if it was so easy and a no brainer you would think the Director would have no problem but he DID. Also, I did NOT authorize my employer to change my tax witholding but they did. How do I maintain personal control over something that I DID NOT authorize? Sounds like the no brainer is YOU!! @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Then contact your employer, that's between you and them. My apologies that you did not take personal responsibility and can't keep track of your own finances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Doesn't really seem like anyone is getting screwed, it's really your obligation to understand your taxes and you should take personal responsibility to understand what money you are entitled to. It's not like you're suddenly not getting the tax cut, you're just not entitled to it twice. It seems like a no brainer. @ ONLY A GUEST WOULD WRITE this lol troll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Please Al-Obama, no more "change we can believe in"...I'm all out of change! lol true @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beowulf Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Then contact your employer, that's between you and them. My apologies that you did not take personal responsibility and can't keep track of your own finances. No, it is not. The IRS TOLD my employer what the new tax witholdings are and they did what the Government told them. Without personal control, there is no personal responsibility. I suppose you tell vitims of accidents and violence it is their fault too, right? I would put my finances up against yours any day of the week and twice on Sunday, buckwheat!! @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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