My husband insists on rigging his w-4 so that we pay out a lot in taxes and get a 6,000 to 7,000 tax refund every year. While this has been nice and something to look forward to every Janurary, I want to start saving and investing. I think he should have more tax home pay so we can start a retirement account and long-term savings. (Right now we have nothing).
He doesn't want to and says "absolutely not". I know this is because it is fun to have a lump sum of money to do things with. But I think we could be using or money more wisely.
THoughts?
2007-08-07 10:40:13 · 12 answers · asked by Kristine R 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
more take-home pay, no tax home pay, sorry
2007-08-07 10:40:45 · update #1
As a volunteer tax preparer I have this argument all the time with people who make interest-free loans to the government so they can have the satisfaction of getting a check in the mail. I never saw anyone deliberately get a $6,000 refund, however--that's really beyond the pale.
The pattern of irresponsible money management and spending you are describing is a sure road to financial ruin and/or marital problems. If he is totally unable to put aside a dime and won't listen to your concerns then you need marital counseling as well as financial planning. Assuming you aren't independently wealthy, your options are to get finances straightened out now, divorce and work for yourself, die young, or live in poverty when you both can't work.
The easiest solution from a financial point of view is to put that $6,000 a year in a 401(k). You won't miss it from the weekly paycheck, it will reduce your overall tax bill, it will grow tax-deferred, and his employer will probably match a portion of it with free money.
2007-08-07 14:31:01 · answer #1 · answered by Houyhnhnm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are giving the government an interest-free loan of quite a lot of money each year. He would accomplish the same thing if he claimed the amount on his W-4 that he's allowed to, then put $500 a month into a savings account -except that with the savings account, he'd end up with more money because he'd get interest on it.
Could the money be used more wisely? Yes.
You have no retirement fund or long-term savings? How about putting half (or more) of that big refund into those?
2007-08-07 14:06:49 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
By doing what you are doing now you are basically giving the goverment a interest free loan. The $6000 to $7000 that they are holding for you earns 0% interest in the year. A better idea would be to set up an account and have the money that would normally be withheld directed deposited into the account. This can be two IRA accounts at your bank or brokerage house. At the current interest rate of 2.14% you are losing $150 annually.
2007-08-07 10:54:36 · answer #3 · answered by Elise C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you wait for the big refund, you lose a whole year of interest!
Uncle Sam will gladly take that interest from you and your husband. At 8%, $6500 is $260, without compounding. Your husband might be afraid that he might blow the small change, so set up a electronic deduction every pay period to an IRA or bank account. You are correct that you are losing money in interest.
2007-08-07 10:52:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on the present, and if you need more money now from your paycheck, rather than waiting until January every year to get your earned money back, I would change how much taxes get taken out, and then you could start saving....but, your husband wouldn't like getting less of a tax return....either way you do it, it will still amount the same. I would talk to him about it, and give him pros and cons.....if he respects you and your ideas, he would listen and support it.....Tell him that you have done it his way for a long time, and maybe you guys should switch it up and see what works better. Good luck.
2007-08-07 10:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by skboo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Congradulations to your husband. He is giving the government an interest free loan of 6 to 7 K, a year. Sounds pretty stupid to me. You would make more in interest alone, even a 0.5% if he took that excess, that he is paying to the government, and put it into a simple savings account. You would make even more, if you had an automatic deduction each payperiod added to an investment acccount.
Suggest to your hubby that he spend $50.00 bucks to consult with an accountant or tax advisor to find out a better way to spend/save your money.
2007-08-07 10:49:03 · answer #6 · answered by rb_cubed 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. Unfortunately your hubby is thicker than two short planks.
There is NOTHING "smart" about making such a large interest-free loan to the government of ALL people! You could have upwards of $150 more in your hands EVERY WEEK if your withholdings were properly set up. Properly invested, that $150 per week could make you FILTHY RICH in your retirement years.
2007-08-07 11:04:49 · answer #7 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no i would say your husband needs to change his mind -- why let them have the use of your money from 15 to 3 months. you would be better off like you say to put the month into a IRA and hope for a break even tax bill.
2007-08-07 10:48:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Only some credits are "refundable" - meaning that you can get those amounts refunded to you. Most credits are non-refundable credits - they are reduce the amount of taxes you owe.
2016-04-01 04:21:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a written budget, which includes a provision for savings. You're broke because of your behavior. Giving the government a free loan seems contra to your goals.
2007-08-07 10:46:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋