What the fuck is this shit? First, I lose my job, and now you want me to pay taxes on Unemployment? What fucking useless bag of flesh came up with that? God damn, I knew politicians were a drain on society and overpaid, under worked walking gas bags, but this is outrageous.
I lose my income and get about 60% of it for unemployment, end up scrimping and eating crappy food for a year trying to keep a roof over my head, staying one step away from being a domesticated hobo, and now you want to tax me for living in this hell for the past year?
Who was the genius who came up with that? I hate you with a passion burning from the depths of my soul. You sir, are slime of the lowest order. I have known some scumbags, and you sir, are the definition of scumbag. Your worthless ass was sitting in your cushy office pretending to care about the very people you represent, and you pass something like this, most likely after you gave yourself another raise. There is a special place in hell for you, and I hope you getting exactly what you deserve.
BonoVox, I know this sucks, but let’s look at this reasonably. You have an income. It is reasonable to assume that you’ll be taxed on it.
I have collected unemployment in the past, and I had to deal with it too, as has Mrs. Moto. Thems the breaks, deal with it.
You might want to check with the nice folks at your state unemployment office and see if taxes can be deferred instead of withheld. Then, if you do get a new job, you can settle up at tax time when your financial situation might be better, and the hit might actually offset a refund you might be due from other income.
Not sure how it works in the States, but I’m assuming it’s similar to how it works in Canada. Our unemployment payments are also taxed. However, let’s look at it this way:
Let’s say 9 months of the year you had your job. And you paid taxes on each paycheque, based on the presumption that you would make that salary year-round. I know we’re heavily taxed here, but in my case, I was taxed at 45%. Let’s say, just to make the numbers easy, that I got $1000 per week, minus taxes. That would give me $650 per week.
Then, oopsie! No job. So for three months (of that year), you collect unemployment. Let’s take the payment at %60 like you say. So now I’m being taxed let’s say 10% on that. So on $600, I get $540. $110 less a week compared to $650 less a week is a nice cushion, if you ask me.
I’m no tax specialist and I know this example is very rudimentary, but at some point, you’ve paid more on income tax in the first 9 months, than you should have. Simply because it’s based on yearly salary, and the presumption was that you would make that salary all year. So, at the end of the year, you will get a refund.
I know that doesn’t help put food on the table NOW, but it’s calculated on yearly salary. So it all comes out “fair” in the end.
Ed Meese was Attorney General from 1985 to 1988. From 1981 to 1985, he was the Counsellor to the President, the President’s Chief policy advisor. They CAN mess around with tax matters. Keep your facts straight. :rolleyes:
So far, the only cite I can find directly tieing Meese to the unemployment benefit tax is this one (scroll down to 11/25/82), which I freely admit, isn’t exactly a reliable source. But the idea isn’t as crazy as you try and make it out.
They don’t take a whole lot out, since you don’t make very much on it in the first place. It’s been about (hmmmmm. scratching head), 15 years since I’ve collected more than a week or two of UE before getting another job.
IIRC, I ended up getting money back because of how little I made that year due to the 6 or 7 months of UE which really decreased my overall wages for that year.
And also IIRC, I didn’t have them take it out of the checks, I simply recieved the full check amount, and then filed at the normal time, and I still ended up getting money back. Oh yeah, and that was making max benefits.
Good luck though I don’t think it’ll be as bad as you think.