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Old 11-28-2004, 01:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
BonesCPA
No. It's not done yet.
 
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Location: sorta kinda phila
I'll assume certain numbers based on your information. Let's assume that you military pension is $12,000/year and each of your salaries are $26-27,000/year. Withholding rates are based on that sole source of income, and other sources of income can not be assumed in those calculations. What does that mean? Taking the pension, when you indicate that you are withholding at Married 0 (or single 0), it looks at how much the taxes would be on that $12,000 as if it was your only income. Let's say the maximum taxes possible on that would be $2,000 (it isn't, but let's say it is.) Then you would have approximately $150-200 a month withheld.

Using the same theory with the other incomes, they would withhold based on their income alone, and withholding let's say 5,000/year. Combined we are looking at $12,000/year. Based on a standard deduction, 3 total dependents, you will be taxes on approx $50k. The taxes on this ends up being about $16,000. Each source of income withholds enough assuming it is the only source of income. Each alone would put you in the lowest brackets. The problem is, that you have mutliple sources and the brackets jump up and you end up short.

First option, review the withholdings. If you have the withholdings at M-0, switch them to S-0. This will have more withheld. Second, force an additional $20 a week of withholding (a little more than $1000/year). Third, leave it alone and put the $20/week into a savings account an earn interest on it. The last option is the "correct" answer for us professionals, assuming you aren't paying underpayment penalties, since you earn interest on the funds - the goverment doesn't give you interest on your refund. However, since most taxpayers want/expect a refund then your opinion may differ.

***Disclaimer*** The numbers used were approximations of income amounts and actual tax amounts. It's the weekend and I don't have my tax rate schedules at home. But the concepts are still accurate.
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