Don't Quit Your Day Job…

Recently we’ve been giving you lots of information on that most popular of topics- the income tax! We here at DQYDJ see no need to tone down our articles on taxes at this point… something about this date (maybe it has something to do with the April 15 tax deadline?) makes tax articles popular. Anyway, thanks to the Tax Foundation, we have an interesting measurement of tax – the number of days you have to work to be free and clear of the burden of tax, otherwise known as Tax Freedom Day!

How often do you see articles from the Associated Press which talk about tax inequalities from the ‘other’ direction… namely the number of people who don’t pay any income taxes. In fact, you may be surprised to find out that nearly half of American households don’t have to pay a single cent in Federal Income taxes. A full 47% of households will pay no 2009 income tax.

CNN recently weighed in with a helpful article for you tax-procrastinators out there. Did you know that in many cases, the IRS doesn’t mind if you file your taxes late? Yes, you guessed it… file late if you are owed money by the Government… most likely you won’t be penalized!

What would you say if someone offered you money to report your tax-evading friends? If you are staring at the screen incredulously, allow me to introduce you to Uncle Sam, who wants to make it worth your while to report on your loose-moraled tax cheat friends (and acquaintances!). If you know someone who is particularly dastardly, you could even make bank- the IRS will reward you 15% of the underpaid amount, up to a whopping $10 million!

For today, here’s a link to an article about the tax-exempt status of the United States Olympic Committee. Fresh off the American medal count win from the 2010 Winter Olympics (I’ll follow up with some numbers this week!), this is sure to cause some controversy – as the laws granting tax-exempt status are supposed to apply to amateur athletic organizations. The Olympics have become anything but an amateur event; witness the big team sports like basketball and hockey which field players from leagues like the National Basketball League and the National Hockey League. All of this might be under the spotlight soon if the USOC starts to ask the government for direct support.

Since yesterday I compared the health plan taxes in Congress to the Alternative Minimum Tax, I suppose it’s only right if today I discuss that tax itself. The infamous tax was enacted to target upper class taxpayers who paid less than ‘their fair share’ of taxes. It went into effect in 1970.

California increased its income and sales taxes recently, in the midst of a recession. That measure was intended to be a temporary increase. Coupled with an increase in the yearly car registration fee, it appeared that plenty of funds would be raised by the new levies. Well, the summer showed that California hadn’t yet left budget crisis mode. As part of a deal to close a $26 billion budget deficit, California is resorting to a dirty trick- taking a no interest loan from its constituents.

From a new report by KPMG: Tax Rates worldwide have fallen every year since 2003. Real Clear Markets posted a graph summarizing the study in their By The Numbers section. In 2003, the average top tax rate was 31.2%. In 2009, the average rate has fallen to 28.9%.

It’s a quickly moving target, but as of August 04, 2009, the national debt is $11,653,350,207,790.34. With 307,212,123 people in the country (July Estimate), that works out to $37,932.59 per person. President Obama promised on the campaign trail to not raise taxes on people making under $250,000 annually. Is that promise now on shaky ground?

“A penny saved, is a penny earned,” wrote Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard’s Almanack. The quote is repeated as fact by many people, often while picking pennies off the ground. Our friend Ben lived in a simpler time, and it’s time to revisit this famous quote with a little (disgusting? intriguing?) math to see if it holds up to closer scrutiny.