Trying to get the motivation to actually go to work tomorrow. My wife and I got our taxes done earlier this afternoon. Last year, when we did taxes, and I had been unemployed for the year, we received about $2,200 back from taxes. This year, we filed taxes, and I have only been working since July 31st, we found out that we owe about $800. That's nearly a $3,000 swing just from me working for half of a year. Well, that and the governments "tax cuts." Someone please tell me what my motivation is to actually not want to quit now so we don't have to worry about paying the government money?

Really?

So you can pay for your rent / mortgage :)

We were doing that on my wife's salary alone.

Try this math ... ... and get your answer: Net (takehome) pay July 31 - Dec 31 = ________ Subtract $3000 additional taxes ........ <3,000> Subtract the total amount of unemployment benefits you would have been paid July 31 - Dec 31 <#,###> The result is your motivation for going back to work tomorrow.

divorce

Food, shelter, clothing, health insurance, the lack of desire to live in the city park or along the side of the freeway. There are actually homeless encampments in the grassy area of the freeways. As far as the taxes owed to the IRS, set up a payment plan, they will let you pay over a period of time. Cut back on expenses to pay the tax. If you need advice on living on a shoestring budget, please ask. Many of us on this board have been out of work a year or longer. You can do one of 2 things: A) Put on your big boy/girl pants and deal with it. B) Tell us where you work, so we can apply for your job.

Well, 2 things 1. I have my big boy pants on, and part of being a big boy is talking out about things that one finds to be dissatisfied within the government: and 2. You couldn't handle my job even if I told you where I worked.

Ezzee, R U getting the right deductions??? It's none of my Biz but did you have enough taken out of each pay?Do you and the Wife have any deductions from a House or other investment?Unless you made a ton of money the second half of the year, I think you need to talk to Payroll and have more taken out.I was grossly underempolyed for 6 plus months and am Happy to be back FT.You have every reason to get up and go to work.PA is running out of UI funds and just reduced benefits this year.UI won't last forever.I'm also very Happy that over $200 of my paycheck is going to help pay for the Mother Fucks who got the bail out on Wall Street.

Well, I am going to my HR person tomorrow to have an additional 10% taken out of each paycheck for Federal Taxes.

that sucks Ezze, sorry to hear that. You know it is always better to be working than not. Getting more taken out each paycheck should help. Do you really hate your job that much? It beats sitting home worrying about money. You could keep looking while you work too. Nice to see you again even if it is to vent.

I would suggest spending $35 for Tax Turbo softw are and run your information through it. Obama has a $400 tax credit line 63 on 1040 line ? on 1040A 10% of your IRA contributions are deductible, line 50 on 1040 line ? on 1040A $2,400 of unemployment income is not taxable. etc. good luck