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Financial Samurai

Slicing Through Money's Mysteries

2011 Income Tax Rates: Raise Taxes On Millionaires Not Us

Updated: by 48 Comments

Here’s a look at the 2011 income tax rats when Obama was President.

President Obama’s State of The Union address was well delivered.  He said almost everything right – from restoring spending discipline to improving education to allowing everyone access to affordable health care.  The one thing President Obama didn’t say correctly was regarding taxation.  He said illogically not to let millionaires get away with their tax cuts at the expense of X, Y, and Z.

Can anybody guess where the inconsistency is in President Obama’s words on income taxes?  On the one hand, President Obama attacks millionaires, yet he so strongly pushes to raise taxes on individuals making only $200,000 and couples making $250,000!  Last time I checked, someone making $200,000 a year isn’t making a million dollars.  And someone making $200,000 a year isn’t necessarily a millionaire!

SAVING FACE THANKS TO POOR NEGOTIATIONS



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What The Tax Cut Extension Means To You

Updated: by 42 Comments

A tax cut extension was made back in 2010 to help Americans save more money. In 2021, taxes are likely going up to pay for all the deficit spending to counteract the coronavirus.

Tax Cut Extension Celebration

Hip hop hooray! With House Democrats agreeing to not hold the middle class hostage anymore, the tax bill passed 277-148!  It was a landslide victory, but still it’s interesting to see that there were 148 dissenters. 

What’s more amazing is that Democrats weren’t able to lower the estate tax exemption amount of $5 million per individual, and raise the estate tax level of 35%.  Talk about bad negotiating!

The real fun now begins where we all do rough pro forma calculations of how much more disposable income we’ll have in 2011 and potentially 2012! First off, I’m glad to see that everybody will pay 2% less on the first $106,800 they earn thanks to a cut in payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) from 6.2% to 4.2%.

From $100,000 to $172,000 (28% Federal marginal tax bracket for singles), you really aren’t going to see much of a change in that money earned after, because the government wasn’t going after you guys.

But, for all you lucky ducks who make $172,000-$380,000 (33% Federal marginal tax bracket for singles), and $380,000+ (35% Federal marginal tax bracket for singles), you’re in for a big treat!

Time To Make More Money And Party

All you’ve got to do is take whatever income you plan to make in 2011, subtract $172,000 and multiply by 3.5% + $2,136 to get your pro forma tax savings! The 3.5% is the estimated average amount the government would have raised the top two income tax brackets by: 33% and 35% would have gone to 36% and 39.6%, respectively.  The $2,136 is from payroll tax savings on the first $106,800.

Example: Let’s say you plan to make $1 million bucks in 2011.  Take $1,000,000 – $172,000 = $828,000 X 0.035 = $28,980 + $2,136 = $31,116.  I’ll take a guess that the millionaire will spend $10,000 on diamond earrings for the wife or a $10,000 home theater system for the husband and save the remaining $21,116.  Not bad for the economy!

What about married couples?

Well remember, the government is sexist and doesn’t believe 1 + 1 = 2.  In other words, the tax brackets don’t double given they believe one spouse should be domesticated and not work.  Hence, instead of using $172,000 in the formula, replace it with the 33% tax bracket income level for couples of $209,250, and you’re good to go!  If the government wasn’t sexist, that number should be $172,000 X 2 = $342,000.

Note, If you make anywhere between $106,801 and $172,000 your disposable income only increases by $2,136.  If you make under $106,800, you’ll save whatever you make X 2%.  You may be more conservative and use lower than a 3.5% savings for your calculation as well.  Everything is a rough estimate, since taxes are complicated.  But, for the most part, follow the formula above and start partying!

Thankfully, the marriage penalty tax has all been abolished for 2021+.

More Highlights From The Bill With Tax Cut Extension

Extension of Unemployment Benefits: The legislation extends emergency unemployment benefits at their current level for 13 months, preventing an estimated 7 million workers from losing their benefits over the next year.

The Child Tax Credit: The $3,000 refundability threshold established in the Recovery Act for the Child Tax Credit will be extended, ensuring an ongoing tax cut to 10.5 million lower-income families with 18 million children.

The Earned Income Tax Credit: The legislation continues a Recovery Act expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit worth, on average, $600 for families with 3 or more children, and reduces the “marriage penalty” faced by working married families.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit: A partially refundable tax credit worth up to $2,500 per student per year that helps more than 8 million students and their families afford the cost of collegewould be continued under the agreement.

100% Expensing: The agreement includes the President’s proposal to temporarily allow businesses to expense 100% of certain investments in 2011, potentially generating more than $50 billion in additional investment in 2011, which will fuel job creation.

Tax Savings Recommendation

Start A Business: A business is one of the best ways to shield your income from more taxes. You can either incorporate as an LLC, S-Corp, or simply be a Sole Proprietor (no incorporating necessary, just be a consultant and file a schedule C).

Every business person can start a Self-Employed 401k where you can contribute up to $54,000 ($18,000 from you and ~20% of operating profits). All your business-related expenses are tax deductible as well. Simply launch your own website like this one in under 30 minutes to legitimize your business. Here’s my step-by-step guide to starting your own website.

Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts
Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts. Instead of paying taxes on $100,000 in income, you’re only paying taxes on $12,000 for maybe a $2,000 tax bill, or 2% effective tax rate.

Are Democrats Against A Middle Class Tax Cut Extension?

Updated: by 31 Comments

Senate Republicans blocked the middle class tax cut extension passed by the House earlier in the week.  There’s a lot of finger pointing by the Democrats who say that the Republicans are holding the middle class hostage.  Is that really the case though?

If the Democrats know their bill will get shot down by Republicans due to perceived inequality of only providing tax cut extensions for certain income classes, then in reality, it is the Democrats who are holding the middle class hostage for trying to keep pushing a bill which won’t get passed!  New legislation starts with the House and moves upwards until it finally hits the President’s desk to vote.

BLAMING GETS US NOWHERE

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How Higher Taxes Saved Me A Boatload Of Money

Updated: by 75 Comments

When the state of California raised the sales tax by another 1% on April 1, 2009 I was pretty pissed.  What kind of government expects their residents to pay a whopping 10% tax on everything they buy?  Pedro doesn’t want to pay $200 in taxes on his $2,000 60-inch LCD TV.  Nancy shouldn’t have to pay $300 more on her $3,000 diamond encrusted bracelet.  And I certainly don’t want to spend $5,200 in taxes on a handsome $52,000 BMW!  That’s just ridiculous!

We the people of California deserve our luxury items just like every other parrot-brained consumer in America.  Who’s to dictate what we can and can’t waste our hard earned money on?  Certainly not some bureaucrat in Sacramento counting all his money under the table, no way!

GOVERNMENT WANTS YOU TO SAVE WHILE THEY SPEND

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Why Is Everybody Leaving Obama For Someone Else?

Updated: by 36 Comments

Why is everybody leaving Obama for someone else? This was the question I raised on October 11, 2010 when people started leaving. It’s interesting, because we kind of only think that many people left Trump during his administration.

Despite persistent insistence of economic improvement, President Obama has lost more than half of his key economic advisers.  White House Budget Director Peter Orszag resigned in June.  Christina Romer, Chairwoman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers left in September, and now Larry Summers, Obama’s Chief Economic Adviser has also resigned recently.

The next obvious candidate to resign is Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who is considered brilliant but doesn’t pay his taxes, yet tells America that the government should raise taxes. 

The fact that Obama hooked him up with the Treasury Secretary job despite Tim cheating on his taxes tells me that Tim will likely stay loyal until Obama is no longer in office.  Very few people have a second chance of this magnitude.  If Tim does quit, he will get destroyed by the Democrats and the public.

Why Is Everybody Leaving Obama For Someone Else?



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Understanding Happiness, Taxes, and Net Worth

Updated: by 13 Comments

Good day brilliant minds! I thought it would be helpful to do a recap of the conclusions from this past week’s posts given we had over 200 comments. Understanding happiness, taxes, and net worth is key.

The purpose of these articles is to get people thinking about issues so we can be more open minded.  If anybody has ever participated in the case study method of learning in graduate school or elsewhere, you’ll know that there isn’t a right answer so much as a right direction. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in your belief that your way is the right way.  That’s a dangerous, dangerous path to take!

Understanding Happiness, Taxes, and Net Worth

The Ideal Income For Maximum Happiness

* Being satisfied with what you have and what you make is an incredible thing.  The topic at hand isn’t whether you are happy or not as some debated.  The topic is about achieving the maximum level of happiness based on a certain income level.

* We agree that a happy person will be happy no matter what level of income.  Again, this is not the point of the article. The point is figuring at what level higher income stops bringing more happiness.

* Earning $75,000 is a solid figure in almost every city in the country except for NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, and LA.  In NYC and San Fran, $75,000 is very average due to the extraordinary cost of living.  Given that housing costs are local, but Federal taxes are nationwide, you can understand the issues.  I’m here to tell you that happiness increases beyond $75,000.

* $200,000 is the level where incremental happiness stops because you are persecuted by the government and the media for being “rich.”  Whether you are rich or not is besides the point.  You are made to feel bad about achieving further as your efforts for progress are stunted. 

You get frustrated by having to pay an ever increasing amount of your income to taxes the more you progress in your career since you are already paying a large absolute amount already.  You start thinking if you can do it, why can’t others and begin losing some perspective of how lucky you are.

Taxes Are A Killer For Motivation

* The government is smarter than you think.  Many of our leaders are millionaires and know what maximum happiness feels like.  They are afraid that once people start refusing to be average, they can no longer control and manipulate you as easily.  Believe in yourself, and believe you can do better.

Renters Should Pay More Taxes

* Many cities, counties, and states have budget deficits which need fixing.  If 30% of Americans rent, why not introduce an annual renters tax that is paid directly to the city, county, or state from the renters?  Practically all homeowners were renters before, and there is a part of me who believes renters do want to help.  A Renter Tax would allow renters to help pitch in by cutting checks directly to the government.  Unfortunately, the majority of readers, who so happen to be renters oppose this idea.

* Most opponents argue that renters are already paying for property tax with their rent.  This is an incorrect assumption as a landlord can say his rent is for their annual Vail trip ski vacation for example.  If there is any correlation with rental income, it is with mortgage expense.  Remember, property taxes are paid to the local government, and not to the homeowner.  If you are arguing against this, then you should also be a believer in the Emergency Fund Fallacy. You can’t have it both ways and need to get your mind straight.

Even More Taxes

* Double taxation is rampant in America – it is the American way.  When you buy a new car, you pay the sales tax.  When you sell your now used car, the new buyer pays tax and so on.  As a shareholder, when you receive dividends, you have to pay dividends even though the dividends are after tax distributions already.  When you rent a DVD, you pay a sales tax for the rental and so forth.  There is no difference in the Renter Tax proposal.

* The next time you are pro raising taxes, and you are a renter, remember that if you aren’t willing to pitch in directly, how do you think those who are already pitching in the most will feel if they are asked to pitch in some more?  You can make arguments for why you do pay until the cows come home, but you aren’t directly contributing.  In order to be treated equally, it’s important to contribute equally.  You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

* Understanding happiness means being able to successfully minimize your tax bill.

Net Worth Matters

The Average American Net Worth Is Huge

* The article has nothing to do with net worth at all.  It’s a showcase of the incredibly irrational nature of human beings.

* How can the majority of readers believe the American average net worth of $182,000 as stated by the Wall St. Journal is too high, yet claim to ALL have net worths greater than $182,000?  Silly is a silly does.

* We are nobody special.  If we start feeling we are special and everybody else is average, we’re in for a rude awakening.  Others are just much more modest about their wealth in this case than we are.  There is much more wealth out there than you can ever imagine.  There are many more millionaires than you think and fortunes are everywhere!

* Stop trying to make yourself feel better by keeping others down and discrediting statistics.  It just makes you look petty and insecure.  Instead, take the bright path and feel hopeful that if the average net worth is $182,000 per person in America. Americans have a tremendous cushion of wealth in case things turn for the worse again.  Use the statistic to understand why consumerism is rampant.  Is it any wonder why Americans keep thriving?  No, because you now realize Americans have so much.

Related: The Average Net Worth For The Above Average American

Understanding Happiness Means Understanding Money And Motivation

We don’t have to agree on everything.  We really don’t.  What’s important is to always keep thinking in ways we aren’t accustomed to.  This is why fluency in a second language for example is so important, because the language brings with you its culture and customs. 

I’m proud that we have so many good thinkers visiting Financial Samurai.  It’s what makes us unique in the personal finance world. Fight on illuminated minds! Understanding happiness, taxes, and net worth is a lifelong endeavor!

Related: Don’t Make $400,000+ A Year, It’s Not Worth It

Manage Your Finances In One Place.

Understanding happiness means getting a handle on your finances by signing up with Personal Capital. They are a free online platform which aggregates all your financial accounts in one place so you can see where you can optimize. Before Personal Capital, I had to log into eight different systems to track 28 different accounts (brokerage, multiple banks, 401K, etc) to manage my finances.

Now I can just log into Personal Capital to see how my stock accounts are doing, how my net worth is progressing, and whether I’m spending within budget. The best feature is the 401K Fee Analyzer which is now saving me over $1,000 a year in portfolio fees I had no idea I was paying! There is no better free online tool out there to manage wealth. It only takes a minute to sign up.

Planning for retirement when paying for private grade school - Understanding Happiness, Taxes, and Net Worth
Are you on the right retirement path? Click to run your numbers through a retirement calculator

Start A Business.

Understanding happiness means being your own boss. A business is one of the best ways to shield your income from more taxes. You can either incorporate as an LLC, S-Corp, or simply be a Sole Proprietor (no incorporating necessary, just be a consultant and file a schedule C).

Every business person can start a Self-Employed 401k where you can contribute up to $54,000 ($18,000 from you and ~20% of operating profits). All your business-related expenses are tax deductible as well. Simply launch your own website like this one in under 30 minutes to legitimize your business. Here’s my step-by-step guide to starting your own website.

Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts - Understanding Happiness, Taxes, and Net Worth
Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts. Instead of paying taxes on $100,000 in income, you’re only paying taxes on $12,000 for maybe a $2,000 tax bill, or 2% effective tax rate.

Updated for 2021 and beyond.

Renters Should Pay More Taxes To Fight For Equality

Updated: by 327 Comments

Renters Should Pay More Taxes To Fight For Equality

If we want to boost government revenue, then renters should pay more taxes. With more renters paying more taxes, we can better fight for equality and help all people. The more people who can pitch into pay taxes, the stronger our economy.

Every winter and spring, millions of homeowners across America pay their property taxes. In California, homeowners have to fork over roughly 1.24% of the assessed value every year to the local government. Put it another way, in 83 years, a homeowner will have paid 100% the value of his or her home in taxes! How sick is that?

It is the American way for all citizens to pay their taxes, except for the many who don’t. We know by now that the often cited “47%” are the elderly or those who make under $20,000 so that’s fine. If you are one of them, just don’t vote to raise taxes on the 53% who already pay 100% of all federal income taxes please! Let’s all pitch in or starve the beast instead.

So why is it that homeowners, many of whom initially struggle to pay their mortgages and come up with the down payment, have to pay extra taxes while renters don’t? Let’s explore and discuss, shall we?

Why Renters Should Pay More Taxes: We Are All Equal



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The Ideal Income For Maximum Happiness

Updated: by 75 Comments

Ideal income for maximum Happiness

If you want maximum happiness, there is an ideal income to earn. After this ideal income level, unfortunately, not much more happiness will be achieved. Therefore, you want to make up to the ideal income level and no more so you don’t waste too much energy and time.

Researchers say the ideal income for maximum happiness is $75,000. But I believe that’s BS. In my opinion, as someone who has made $4/hour to over $1 million a year, the ideal income for maximum happiness is about $250,000 per person and $350,000 for a family of up to four.

It hit me the other day that maybe the government is benevolent and not a bunch of self serving, two-faced, power hungry crooks. For the longest time, I thought the government was sexist because they don’t provide an equal amount of deductions or leeway once a couple gets married.

If I make $250,000 and my wife makes $250,000, why is the government penalizing couples making more than $250,000? $250,000 plus $250,000 is $500,000 in household income numb nuts! Do you expect one spouse to make nothing or a fraction of the other spouse’s income once they get together? That’s kinda silly and totally presumptuous you sexist pigs.

And another thing. What about if one spouse has a $1 million mortgage and the other spouse has a $1million mortgage. $1 million + $1 million is $2 million, so why is the mortgage interest deduction on income capped at $1 million for couples?  Isn’t it logical to conclude that two people living in $1 million mortgaged houses might seek to live in an even more expensive house when they marry? Heck, the couple might even want kids too which warrants a bigger house. Guess not.



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Why Pay Taxes If Government Employees Don’t?

Updated: by 59 Comments

You know America is great when a guy named Tim Geithner can evade $34,000 in taxes, get appointed to become the US Treasury Secretary puppet, AND make repeated claims in the press to raise taxes in 2011!

Well of course it’s a good idea to raise taxes if you can evade them as craftily as you can Treasury Secretary Geithner!  So good of you to say you messed up on your own tax returns (oopsie), and to ignore your old employer’s repeated written statements to pay your taxes between 2001 and 2004 at the IMF.  So good of you to finally pay the $34,000 taxes you evaded once Obama selected you as the new Treasury Secretary!  We all know you would have paid the $34,000 in back taxes even if Obama didn’t appoint you right? *wink* *wink*.

TIM GEITHNER ISN’T ALONE!

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The Ultimate Solution For A Fair Income Tax Policy In America

Updated: by 79 Comments

Do you want a fair income tax policy in America? So do I! I wrote this post on July 28, 2010 when I was working crazy hours. My hope was to make big bucks and be free sooner, than later. The potential to pay more taxes was disheartening.

Let’s review what was going on back then. Let’s also discuss how we should proceed w/ President Biden planning to raise taxes on households making over $400,000 a year. Man, I was really frustrated back then. But not any longer!

The Ultimate Solution For A Fair Income Tax Policy

With the Bush tax cuts set to expire next year, there’s going to be a big debate during the mid-term elections this November!  But, should there really even be a tax debate?  It’s obvious that we should NOT raise taxes on small business owners and higher income, hard working Americans in a nascent economic recovery!

Everybody knows roughly 47% of Americans pay no federal income taxes. Hence, the ultimate solution for tax legislation is to strip away tax voting rights for the 47% of Americans who pay no tax! Seems fair no? They still get to enjoy the benefits of other people’s contributions. 

If you’re one of the 100+ million Americans who pay no income tax, isn’t it good enough to enjoy free public schooling, nice roads, friendly firemen and police officers protecting your neighborhood?  Being thankful is a great disposition to have.  Being greedy is not.

An Example Of A Family Making $120,000 Paying No Taxes:

“Say you’re married with salary income of $120,000, 401(k) contributions of $12,000, two under-age-17 kids, and a college student with $4,000 in education expenses. Assume you also bought a home this year that qualifies for the now-defunct $6,500 credit for existing homeowners. Finally, assume you’re eligible for the $1,500 credit for energy-efficient home improvements. Believe it or not, your 2010 federal income tax bill will be zero even if you only claim the standard deduction.

Your tax bill of $11,950 is completely wiped out by $13,300 in credits ($2,000 child credit, $2,500 education credit, $6,500 home buyer credit, $1,500 credit for energy-efficient improvements, and the $800 Making Work Pay credit).

In fact, you’ll get a $1,350 check from the government. Some of your credits are refundable ($13,300 of credits – $11,950 of tax = $1,350 of free money),” writes Bill Bischoff of SmartMoney.

2017 Marginal Federal Income Tax Rates
Assuming Trump doesn’t lower them. This existing tier doesn’t reward work ethic. It punishes!

VOTING TO RAISE TAXES ON OTHERS WHEN YOU PAY NO TAXES IS LIKE……..

If you vote to raise other people’s taxes, please pay more yourself. Otherwise, it’s like:

* Dr. Phil writing a book and telling someone to lose weight.

* Suzie Orman telling you to invest in the stock market when only 2% of her wealth is invested in equities.

* A recent college graduate teaching you how to be rich.

* A hardcore vegetarian who wears leather shoes.

* A priest who preaches acceptance but expects you to burn in hell when Armageddon comes if you don’t convert.

* The United States implementing economic sanctions against emerging countries for polluting.

* A boss who tells you to work hard but goes and plays golf every other day and takes long lunches.

* US Treasury Secretary Geithner saying raising taxes is “the right thing to do” but cheats on his own taxes.

A Fair Income Tax Policy Is All We Ever Want

Some may argue that voting is a fundamental right as decreed by the 15th amendment of the Constitution.  I agree, go ahead and vote on whether the government should implement a flat tax on those who pay nothing. It’s only fair.  Just don’t go around pretending as a non tax payer, you have the right to vote on persecuting others to pay for your own free government benefits.

It’s so obvious to any rational person that if you pay no taxes, you can’t possibly be able to vote for people whose agenda it is to raise taxes on others.  Yet, millions of non tax paying Americans continue to support tax increases for the rich, who may very well be the ones who help keep the millions who don’t pay taxes employed!

Friendly Americans who pay no taxes, please have a heart and enjoy your spoils and stop punishing others further.  For the 53% of Americans who do pay taxes, let us decide what is the right level of income taxation to help support the economy and you guys.  We might vote to raise our own taxes and dis-incentivize ourselves to work hard.  So be it.  At least we get to vote on our own destiny!  Thanks!

Track Your Net Worth For Free

The other action item wealthy people do is track their net worth. You can only truly optimize your wealth if you know where all your money is going! Sign up for Personal Capital, the web’s #1 free wealth management tool to get a better handle on your finances. I’ve been using them since 2012 and have made much wiser financial decisions since. In addition to better money oversight, run your investments through their award-winning Investment Checkup tool to see exactly how much you are paying in fees. I was paying $1,700 a year in fees I had no idea I was paying.

After you link all your accounts, use their Retirement Planning calculator that pulls your real data to give you as pure an estimation of your financial future as possible using Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. Input various expense and income variables to see how you stand. Your goal should be to get to a 90% probability of achieving your goal. Try it out yourself for free. Your future is too important not to take it seriously. You don’t want to end up old and not have enough money because there is no rewind button!

Retirement Planner Personal Capital
Is your retirement on track? Check for free after linking your accounts

Tax Savings Recommendation

Start A Business. We might never get a fair income tax policy. As a result, starting a business is one of the best ways to shield your income from more taxes. You can either incorporate as an LLC, S-Corp, or simply be a Sole Proprietor (no incorporating necessary, just be a consultant and file a schedule C).

Every business person can start a Self-Employed 401k where you can contribute up to $54,000 ($18,000 from you and ~20% of operating profits). All your business-related expenses are tax deductible as well. Simply launch your own website like this one in under 30 minutes to legitimize your business. Here’s my step-by-step guide to starting your own website.

Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts
Start a simple business to pay less taxes and contribute more to pre-tax retirement accounts. Instead of paying taxes on $100,000 in income, you’re only paying taxes on $12,000 for maybe a $2,000 tax bill, or 2% effective tax rate.

Related: How To Pay Little Or No Income Taxes For The Rest Of Your Life

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