Don't forget your taxes!

[paigeoliver]

US people don't forget your taxes! I just mailed mine. I always do them the last day because I always owe money.

[SirPeale]

Really?  Why?  What are you claiming?

[paigeoliver]

As far as withholding, one exemption. Being a single male who owns no property I have no hope of beating the standard exemption with itemized ones, thus I always owe.

[SirPeale]

Weird.  When I was a single guy I always (except just once, when I picked up a second job) got a refund.  Albiet not much, usually less than $100.

[paigeoliver]

It probably has to do with the fact that I work a 40 hour week, every week, 52 weeks a year. Never take any days off, never call off sick. I think that breaks the little withholding formula when you do that.

I haven't called in sick in 7 years. I unfortunately don't get any vacation days or holidays either.

Man, I need to find a new job, if I got holidays off, 10 vacation days, and 5 sick days like NORMAL people then I would be working 20 less days per year.

[SirPeale]

Ah, I got it.  You're claiming '1' on your W4.  I always claimed '0'.

[paigeoliver]

If I claimed zero then I would get a giant return every year. I am good with my money, I don't have to give free loans to the government like most of my idiot co-workers do. My average co-worker is a single mother who gets earned income-credit and thus already gets a gigantor return (larger return than they even pay), and most of them STILL have them take out extra money every check so they can get an even bigger return. Apparently it is the way they make large purchases.

[SOAPboy]

If I claimed zero then I would get a giant return every year. I am good with my money, I don't have to give free loans to the government like most of my idiot co-workers do. My average co-worker is a single mother who gets earned income-credit and thus already gets a gigantor return (larger return than they even pay), and most of them STILL have them take out extra money every check so they can get an even bigger return. Apparently it is the way they make large purchases.

Meh, i claim 0 and in that "extra withhold line" i put 1$.. love getting ALL my money back.. ^_^

[Bones]

Not trying to rub salt into any wounds, but in the US you only get awarded 2 weeks holiday per year, is this right?

So if you want to go overseas for 6 weeks you have to sacrifice holidays for three years for them to accumulate?

We get 4 weeks per year here and at times I struggle maintaining any worthwhile holiday "buffer".

[SirPeale]

Interesting.  When I claimed zero I got  back a couple hundred usually.  Spread out over a year, that's not terribly bad.  Better than shelling out *anything* at tax time.

Now that I have kids, my average return is about $4,000.  Of course, there's always the expense involved... 

[ChadTower]

Once you get kids and a mortgage, you really get huge returns.

[GGKoul]

Not trying to rub salt into any wounds, but in the US you only get awarded 2 weeks holiday per year, is this right?

So if you want to go overseas for 6 weeks you have to sacrifice holidays for three years for them to accumulate?

Most companies in the US won't all you to take 6 weeks of paid vacation.  You'll have to take 2 or 3 weeks of your vacation time and apply for a non-paid leave for the additional weeks.

Australian programs is much better.  As you get a minimium of 4 weeks off and when you take a holiday, you get an extra 25% to you pay.  The increase is probably do to the fact it costs you a fortune to fly from Australian to else where in the world.

[GGKoul]

Once you get kids and a mortgage, you really get huge returns.

God damm lucky Americans that are able to write off your mortgage interest....

[ChadTower]

Most companies in the US won't all you to take 6 weeks of paid vacation.  You'll have to take 2 or 3 weeks of your vacation time and apply for a non-paid leave for the additional weeks.

Most companies I've worked for won't let you take the 2 weeks you are 'given', anyway.  You just end up having to take it in untaken vacation pay at the end of the year.  I haven't taken a vacation since 2001.

[GGKoul]

Most companies in the US won't all you to take 6 weeks of paid vacation.

[Shape D.]

Not trying to rub salt into any wounds, but in the US you only get awarded 2 weeks holiday per year, is this right?

So if you want to go overseas for 6 weeks you have to sacrifice holidays for three years for them to accumulate?

We get 4 weeks per year here and at times I struggle maintaining any worthwhile holiday "buffer".

It depends on the company you work for. I guess paige's employer doesn't give any a lot of the employers give a flat 2 weeks.
mine starts with 3 days of vacation time your first year, after 90 days. but then jumps up to 2 weeks after your first year, and increses evry now and then the longer you work here max 25 days vacation time 5 weeks. 

And yes most places will either not let you take that long of a vacation if you don't have the vacation time, or they won't pay you for it.

the sweet companies are the ones that pay you for your unused vacation time if you quit or are fired. (mine does)

[ChadTower]

So true.  And most companies give you a hard time when you try to take the 2 weeks at the same time.

I have never been able to take more than 5 days, not once in my career.

[Stingray]

I work in a school. I get two weeks off for xmas, a week off for spring break, and then I also get two weeks of for vacation, five "personal days" and more sick days than I can even come close to using in a year.

Working 52 weeks a year sucks.

-S

[2600]

Once you get kids and a mortgage, you really get huge returns.

I wish.  Mortgage, I'll agree but we had a boy this past year, and don't get anything back for him.


As for vacation and sick days, I'd make you all jealous.

[GGKoul]

As for vacation and sick days, I'd make you all jealous.

Well, I get 4 weeks a year and I'm off to Greece this summer for 3 weeks.

[2600]

As for vacation and sick days, I'd make you all jealous.

Well, I get 4 weeks a year and I'm off to Greece this summer for 3 weeks.

Higher.

[GGKoul]

As for vacation and sick days, I'd make you all jealous.

Well, I get 4 weeks a year and I'm off to Greece this summer for 3 weeks.

Higher.

Wait, didn't we have this discussion before... you get 6 or 8 weeks, but you've been there for a long time and even though you have this much time, you rarely get to take vacation...

[2600]

Wait, didn't we have this discussion before... you get 6 or 8 weeks, but you've been there for a long time and even though you have this much time, you rarely get to take vacation...

Sorry, you've got me confused with someone else.

Maybe this guy He looks pretty busy.

[GGKoul]

Wait, didn't we have this discussion before... you get 6 or 8 weeks, but you've been there for a long time and even though you have this much time, you rarely get to take vacation...

Sorry, you've got me confused with someone else.

Maybe this guy He looks pretty busy.

No I was thinking about this thread

[M3talhead]

I work in a school. I get two weeks off for xmas, a week off for spring break, and then I also get two weeks of for vacation, five "personal days" and more sick days than I can even come close to using in a year.

Working 52 weeks a year sucks.

-S

Sorry guys, but I had to just chime in.

U.S. Military
2.5 days of vacation per month ( I have about 60 saved up)
Unlimited sick days (provided you get an appointment and can withstand the riddicule of your coworkers)
Work only 1/2 the month (3 on 2 off, 2 on 3 off)
Free extentions on tax returns if stationed overseas (till June)

[Stingray]

I work in a school. I get two weeks off for xmas, a week off for spring break, and then I also get two weeks of for vacation, five "personal days" and more sick days than I can even come close to using in a year.

Working 52 weeks a year sucks.

-S

Sorry guys, but I had to just chime in.

U.S. Military
2.5 days of vacation per month ( I have about 60 saved up)
Unlimited sick days (provided you get an appointment and can withstand the riddicule of your coworkers)
Work only 1/2 the month (3 on 2 off, 2 on 3 off)
Free extentions on tax returns if stationed overseas (till June)

You left out "risk of being shot at/ blown up". IMO, you deserve the extra time off more than I do.

-S

[Samstag]

Sweet!

[GGKoul]

I have a buddy that works at Ford Auto Plant in Oakville.  And until the end of the year the everyone at the plant is working 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. 

[lokki]

Now that I have kids, my average return is about $4,000.

[ChadTower]

You could, but if your status changes during the year, or you do it wrong, you are severely forked.

[Hoagie_one]

taxes are for tourists

just like stop signs and speed limits

[SirPeale]

I wish.  Mortgage, I'll agree but we had a boy this past year, and don't get anything back for him.

I'm guessing you're not a US resident?

[paigeoliver]

Most lower class jobs in America don't provide vacation days at all.

[Shape D.]

I used to work at a gas station and I got vacation time. I think youre just getting screwed.

[missioncontrol]

I allready filed mine 

nice fat return   

I usually use part of my return to make an extra payment on my mortgage to knock down the principal of the loan........

[ChadTower]

I filed mine the week the W2s came in.  Put 90% of my return into savings, the rest I spent on stuff around the house that needed fixing/upgrading.

[SirPeale]

I wanted to use our return to pay off the car, or a chunk on the credit cards.  But it's going to be used to pay for rent and whatnot, since my wife's last day was today.  I'm now officially looking for a job.

[2600]

I wish.  Mortgage, I'll agree but we had a boy this past year, and don't get anything back for him.

I'm guessing you're not a US resident?

Why would you guess that?  BTW, I am a US resident.

[ArcadeMaze]

Mailed mine last week.

[Bones]

Not trying to rub salt into any wounds, but in the US you only get awarded 2 weeks holiday per year, is this right?

So if you want to go overseas for 6 weeks you have to sacrifice holidays for three years for them to accumulate?

Australian programs is much better.