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My last paycheck I made a little over 9k and after taxes and 401k and health I walked away with 5k. But who is going to feed those poor suckers?Why do I pay so much in taxes? My tax rate is 32% yet President Trump can make millions and have a lower tax rate than me. I don't even live in a state with income tax!
Why do I pay so much in taxes? My tax rate is 32% yet President Trump can make millions and have a lower tax rate than me. I don't even live in a state with income tax!
Why do I pay so much in taxes? My tax rate is 32% yet President Trump can make millions and have a lower tax rate than me. I don't even live in a state with income tax!
Make sure your W-4 allowances are set correctly so they don't withhold too much in taxes leading to you getting a massive refund. The baseline W-4 is 2 allowances for a single person who takes the standard deduction. Then federal taxes should be around 21% + 6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare = 28.65%.
I'm trying to move away from salary which gets taxed at that rate with SS and Medicare, and trying to get more of my income from investments which can get the long-term capital gains tax rate of 15%, no SS/Medicare, or you can use a tax sheltered account like an IRA or tax free Roth.
Yes, I've written about it before:Wasn't there a thread in the past with advice on filling out W-4? Advice on filling it out would be appreciated!
Yes, I've written about it before:
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/posts/17206736/
Complicated answer with all the calculations: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/posts/17261195/
For new grads who only get RPh pay for half the year: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/posts/17208218/
buy a rental property and take advantage of write-offs and depreciationThere is no secret to reducing your tax liability:
- max 401 k
- max HSA
- get marry (makes sure she doesn't work)
- have tons of kids
- buy health insurance from your employer
- get a mortgage
- increase your federal withholding to 2
- start a business and lose money
- donate money to a non-profit (i.e. church)
What else?
Make money from other sources like investing, rental properties.
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The point of my post is that you can wind up paying moderate taxes from wages alone if you take advantage of the deductions offered.
Of course, you should also invest but remember (if you have a choice) there are critical differences between wages and investing. Investing in the stock market or real estate risks the funds you invested in whereas working extra hours does not. And most people involved in real estate would say there is quite a bit of sweat equity required too. Just keep an open mind and realize working for an extra dollar but losing 30-40% to taxes still leaves you ahead of working an hour of sweat equity for nothing and your investment goes nowhere or worse loses money.
If your AGI is > $150,000 you cannot deduct any passive rental losses and the phaseout begins at $100,000.buy a rental property and take advantage of write-offs and depreciation
max out FSA
Really??? Most people can't marry and/or have children??? LOL! Wait, are you also assuming people can't buy houses either?!Yeah but your "deductions" are having a wife who doesn't work and having a big family. That is not something most people can take "advantage" of.
Really??? Most people can't marry and/or have children??? LOL! Wait, are you also assuming people can't buy houses either?!
As an FYI, everyone can use itemized deductions starting with buying a home (or two). Buying a home with as little down as possible is a leveraged play but one the tax laws favor. Being able to itemize enables other deductions such state income or sales taxes, property tax on vehicles and boats, and donations. Check out TurboTax's "It's Deductible" tool which makes valuing non-cash donations a breeze (you'd be surprised the values it assigns and the IRS accepts). And in Arizona, there are almost $4800 in cash donations eligible for a 100% tax credit -- so the donations costs you nothing but enables you to deduct on the Federal return (and $4800 is a $1200 increased Federal refund at the 25% tax bracket). Check your state for favorable tax credits.
Hey Ben, if you earned $120,000 gross with zero deductions and are single I calculate the max social + federal of 27.4%. I can't get you as high as 32%. Are you looking at your marginal tax rate?Why do I pay so much in taxes? My tax rate is 32% yet President Trump can make millions and have a lower tax rate than me. I don't even live in a state with income tax!
Ha, like I would give you my personal information. Since you are a lost cause I'll just demonstrate to others how to look at it:
For Social Security, say I made $258,000 gross and I had $4,000 in pretax deductions and $18,000 in 401(k) leaving net income of $236,000. Half of which, $118,000 is subject to social security of 6.2% and all $236,000 is subject to Medicare of 1.45% for effective tax rate of 4.2% on gross income before Federal taxes.
Assume the full $236,000 is AGI. Now we look at personal and itemized deductions:
5 kids plus wife is 6 personal exemptions or a $24,300 deduction.
Mortgage and real estate taxes on two houses (principal residence and vacation home), donations, sales tax and property tax deductions add another $60,000.
Taxable income is $151,700 and tax is therefore ~$29,500 or 11.4% of gross income and a combined social security plus federal of 15.6% on gross income.
Now if I was single, then I would lose the $24,300 personal exemption and use the singles tax table. Nothing else changes. I calculate a combined tax of 20.6%, much higher but not horrible on gross income of $258,000.
So folks, don't look at your withholding and take home pay, you have to look at the final taxes you pay on your 1040. The current tax code gives a huge incentive for 401(k) and homeownership and that means expensive homes (pick homes with good appreciation potential).
And heck yeah, why not marry someone who wants to stay at home and raise kids.
BMB, you're just brain dead dude. No helping ya.
I get to do my taxes this weekend...guess I need to stock up on tissues now.
As for those that advocate rental properties to help lower your taxes, it is true but let me tell you a little story... Two months ago I finally evicted a tenant after 3 months of non-payment, this is after paying numerous fees to the court system and endless waiting. The constable finally came out to throw out the freeloaders and we had discovered that the tenant had let her dog and 2 cats defecate and urinate all over the carpet in retaliation, (the constable threw the tenant out and GTFOed due to the smell). In addition to completely destroying all carpets in the house, the tenant splashed oil and paint on the walls which had just been professionally painted less than six months ago at a cost of $3000. New carpet and paint for the house cost $3250 and it took about 1 month for the smell to dissipate enough to put the house back on the market. Finally getting a tenant to sign a lease for the house starting April 1st (old tenant was evicted Feb 9th) we found out that the city needed to do an inspection of the house even though one had been done about 8 months prior. Luckily the repairs they require will only cost us an additional $400 mostly due to a hairline crack in one of the windows that is on the outer pane of double-pane glass. Rental properties can be profitable, but often they can be a real PITA so don't be so quick to think they are an easy way to save a bunch of money on your taxes.
Yes, I misspoke on FICA and 401(k). Thanks for the correction. As for the state taxes, the OP stated that he is not subject to state taxes which is why all my examples excluded state tax.That's funny you say that because I'm your examples you literally stated contributing to a 401k bypassed FICA taxes which it doesn't. You pay fica taxes on your gross income. 401k is exempt from both federal and state taxes but not FICA. Of course in your example it doesn't matter since the income is well above fica limits. It does matter for the average pharmacist tho.
On top of that you say you calculate a max federal plus fica of 27.4% for the other poster but completely forget state taxes which literally all but I believe 6 states charge. In addition to the income taxes are sales taxes, license taxes/fees , and property taxes . Although the latter is typically deductible you still lose money taxwisw
Yes, I misspoke on FICA and 401(k). Thanks for the correction. As for the state taxes, the OP stated that he is not subject to state taxes which is why all my examples excluded state tax.
Sorry to hear that, but thanks for sharing your story. My parents also had to evict their very first tenant and it wasn't even as bad as yours, but I have stayed away from investing in rental properties ever since. I don't want to have to deal with the headaches. Fortunately, the alternative which is to invest in the stock market has been very good to me.I get to do my taxes this weekend...guess I need to stock up on tissues now.
As for those that advocate rental properties to help lower your taxes, it is true but let me tell you a little story... Two months ago I finally evicted a tenant after 3 months of non-payment, this is after paying numerous fees to the court system and endless waiting. The constable finally came out to throw out the freeloaders and we had discovered that the tenant had let her dog and 2 cats defecate and urinate all over the carpet in retaliation, (the constable threw the tenant out and GTFOed due to the smell). In addition to completely destroying all carpets in the house, the tenant splashed oil and paint on the walls which had just been professionally painted less than six months ago at a cost of $3000. New carpet and paint for the house cost $3250 and it took about 1 month for the smell to dissipate enough to put the house back on the market. Finally getting a tenant to sign a lease for the house starting April 1st (old tenant was evicted Feb 9th) we found out that the city needed to do an inspection of the house even though one had been done about 8 months prior. Luckily the repairs they require will only cost us an additional $400 mostly due to a hairline crack in one of the windows that is on the outer pane of double-pane glass. Rental properties can be profitable, but often they can be a real PITA so don't be so quick to think they are an easy way to save a bunch of money on your taxes.
How did they pass interview/screen. Is there a prop.manager? Also if I am to start rental business, no cats-non negotiable. they have a penchant for ruining carpet
Quick question. Why would any landlord allow a tenant to have any pets? It just seems not worth the trouble. Does it make it hard to find someone to rent to? When I was looking at places I always asked about pets not because I had one but I didn't want to live somewhere that had previous pets. I've thought about a dog but I think I'd rather find a rental building that's completely pet free. We'll see.
What did you do that trigger an inspection for your property?I get to do my taxes this weekend...guess I need to stock up on tissues now.
As for those that advocate rental properties to help lower your taxes, it is true but let me tell you a little story... Two months ago I finally evicted a tenant after 3 months of non-payment, this is after paying numerous fees to the court system and endless waiting. The constable finally came out to throw out the freeloaders and we had discovered that the tenant had let her dog and 2 cats defecate and urinate all over the carpet in retaliation, (the constable threw the tenant out and GTFOed due to the smell). In addition to completely destroying all carpets in the house, the tenant splashed oil and paint on the walls which had just been professionally painted less than six months ago at a cost of $3000. New carpet and paint for the house cost $3250 and it took about 1 month for the smell to dissipate enough to put the house back on the market. Finally getting a tenant to sign a lease for the house starting April 1st (old tenant was evicted Feb 9th) we found out that the city needed to do an inspection of the house even though one had been done about 8 months prior. Luckily the repairs they require will only cost us an additional $400 mostly due to a hairline crack in one of the windows that is on the outer pane of double-pane glass. Rental properties can be profitable, but often they can be a real PITA so don't be so quick to think they are an easy way to save a bunch of money on your taxes.
Quick question. Why would any landlord allow a tenant to have any pets? It just seems not worth the trouble. Does it make it hard to find someone to rent to? When I was looking at places I always asked about pets not because I had one but I didn't want to live somewhere that had previous pets. I've thought about a dog but I think I'd rather find a rental building that's completely pet free. We'll see.
Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
What did you do that trigger an inspection for your property?
And heck yeah, why not marry someone who wants to stay at home and raise kids.
And that's just AGI. Probably over $170K gross, pretty good work pez!Ya you still made 152K!
32k in federal taxes off an AGI (does not include 401k or health ins) of 152k = effective tax rate 21%.
This is as bad as it gets because I'm single and only have the standard deduction, but I'm still ok with it because:
- I paid $0 state income tax
- $0 mortgage interest or payments
- $0 student loans
You get 10-15% with no job spouse easily with a bunch of kids, or if as a single your mortgage interest is high + property tax AND you don't make that much, I. E sub 150k... If u make a lot your deduction doesn't matter, AMT kicks in (I paid $4.5k last yr), and a bunch of your deduction are disallowed (state tax, property tax, misc deduction). Then, your effective tax rate will be 20%+Good then I'm not the only one getting screwed. These 11-12% people have me jealous. I'm @ 21.04%. But no dependents and not a homeowner yet so I guess that's big.
Know the difference between effective tax rate for fed, effective tax rate for state and tax bracket for each. You don't know the difference between these and how to calculate them. Mine never goes past 22% effective tax rate fed (max 401k 18k) with income above 200k+ in 2011 even with 0 deduction.Feel as though I'm doing something wrong with my tax rate is over 31%... no dependents, no kids however
29k Federal
7350 Social security
2k Medicare
5k State
650 School district
1700 City
-------
45,770 Total
Got $2300 back on my return