4 ms·

> it is a “conflict of interest” for the government to both collect taxes and calculate how much people owe Doesn't the government do this anyway? Try claimin

> it is a “conflict of interest” for the government to both collect taxes and calculate how much people owe Doesn't the government do this anyway? Try claiming that you owe $0 and see how that goes over. The individual taxpayer has already had the money withheld and then submits paperwork after the fact just in case any of the business entities involved failed to submit their required documentation.

Karunamon 12y ago
In about 15 years in the labor force, I've never once had the withholding match up perfectly with the taxes owed. Either not enough is withheld or too much. Either way, I'm stuck filing the #($&ing paperwork.
- raldi 12y ago
  The withholding is calculated by you and your employer, not the IRS.
  - grandalf 12y ago
    So how can I request $0 withholding?
    - raldi 12y ago
      If you underwithhold several years in a row, you get hit with fines and retroactive interest.
      - grandalf 12y ago
        I'm aware of that but my point is that most employers would not allow that since the employer is also liable if it under-withheld for a W2 employee.
        sfont 12y ago
        The employer is only liable for the Medicare/SS withholdings. Half of them are deducted from your check and the employer pays the other half out of pocket. As long as you're being paid as an employee you have no control over that. The employer will only withhold and send income taxes based on what you've specified on your W-4.
        raldi 12y ago
        So it sounds like we're in total agreement.
        dragonwriter 12y ago
        > I'm aware of that but my point is that most employers would not allow that since the employer is also liable if it under-withheld for a W2 employee. AFAIK, they aren't liable for under withholding if they withhold correctly according to the W-4 signed by the employee, even if the W-4 claims things (e.g., "exempt" when the employee does not meet the qualifications) that are not accurate.
    - dogecoinbase 12y ago
      It doesn't follow that because you are responsible for specifying the withholding, that you can request an arbitrary withholding.
    - expando 12y ago
      Yep! You'll just have a gigantic bill come due in April
    - dragonwriter 12y ago
      > So how can I request $0 withholding? Submit a signed W-4 [0] to your employer with the word "Exempt" on Line 7. Of course, by doing so you also certify that you are actually meet the legal requirements stated on the form for $0 withholding, under penalty of perjury, so you obviously should only do it if, you know, you actually qualify for it. But that's how you do it. [0] http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
    - phonon 12y ago
      Just look at a W-4. It's all there. (Including the no-income-tax-deduction option.) Just fill it out and hand it to your employer. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
- masklinn 12y ago
  Since withholding is performed upfront it either uses older declarations or (more likely) some sort of standard chart. So it's similar to a utility bill: some amount is withheld throughout the year and once all data is in the actual amount of taxes due is tallied and the payment is adjusted (with a check to or from the IRS).
bmm6o 12y ago
You're right. You should distrust any argument Norquist makes about taxation - you'll find that they are either wrong (as in this case) or strawmen. His actual goal is to defund government and you should assume anything he does is done to further that goal. And lest you think this is just ad hominem ranting, google "drown government in a bathtub" and look at the effects Prop 13 have had on California municipalities.
- spacemanmatt 12y ago
  Yup. Norquist deserves no trust.

Karunamon 12y ago

In about 15 years in the labor force, I've never once had the withholding match up perfectly with the taxes owed. Either not enough is withheld or too much. Either way, I'm stuck filing the #($&ing paperwork.

raldi 12y ago
The withholding is calculated by you and your employer, not the IRS.
- grandalf 12y ago
  So how can I request $0 withholding?
  - raldi 12y ago
    If you underwithhold several years in a row, you get hit with fines and retroactive interest.
    - grandalf 12y ago
      I'm aware of that but my point is that most employers would not allow that since the employer is also liable if it under-withheld for a W2 employee.
      - sfont 12y ago
        The employer is only liable for the Medicare/SS withholdings. Half of them are deducted from your check and the employer pays the other half out of pocket. As long as you're being paid as an employee you have no control over that. The employer will only withhold and send income taxes based on what you've specified on your W-4.
      - raldi 12y ago
        So it sounds like we're in total agreement.
      - dragonwriter 12y ago
        > I'm aware of that but my point is that most employers would not allow that since the employer is also liable if it under-withheld for a W2 employee. AFAIK, they aren't liable for under withholding if they withhold correctly according to the W-4 signed by the employee, even if the W-4 claims things (e.g., "exempt" when the employee does not meet the qualifications) that are not accurate.
  - dogecoinbase 12y ago
    It doesn't follow that because you are responsible for specifying the withholding, that you can request an arbitrary withholding.
  - expando 12y ago
    Yep! You'll just have a gigantic bill come due in April
  - dragonwriter 12y ago
    > So how can I request $0 withholding? Submit a signed W-4 [0] to your employer with the word "Exempt" on Line 7. Of course, by doing so you also certify that you are actually meet the legal requirements stated on the form for $0 withholding, under penalty of perjury, so you obviously should only do it if, you know, you actually qualify for it. But that's how you do it. [0] http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
  - phonon 12y ago
    Just look at a W-4. It's all there. (Including the no-income-tax-deduction option.) Just fill it out and hand it to your employer. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
masklinn 12y ago
Since withholding is performed upfront it either uses older declarations or (more likely) some sort of standard chart. So it's similar to a utility bill: some amount is withheld throughout the year and once all data is in the actual amount of taxes due is tallied and the payment is adjusted (with a check to or from the IRS).

bmm6o 12y ago

You're right. You should distrust any argument Norquist makes about taxation - you'll find that they are either wrong (as in this case) or strawmen. His actual goal is to defund government and you should assume anything he does is done to further that goal. And lest you think this is just ad hominem ranting, google "drown government in a bathtub" and look at the effects Prop 13 have had on California municipalities.

spacemanmatt 12y ago
Yup. Norquist deserves no trust.