How much did you pay the taxman this year?

I was in $272.00 this year.

$1090.

Ouch.

Claimed Married 0.

I have a baby on the way, but I need to buy a house to help my cause.

"Ulairi" wrote:

I was in $272.00 this year.

Maybe I should have you do my taxes :). Between federal and state we spent about 2,200 :(. Last year was better because my wife got more credits for being a teacher but do to the california budget crisis they striped those away. Love that marriage penalty.

Actually I was thinking we need to make some baby''s in a hurry for those dam credits... but then I''m pretty sure that is how I got here and I don''t think that worked out so well for my dad over the long run

I got a refund of 700$...

you guys must be kidding me. I have to pay 22% each month of my income taxes and another 22% social taxes. Or are you talking about the yearly tax report? I''ll be getting a nice refund there, since I was a student most of the last year ;).

I think they''re talking about how much they have had to pay additional at tax time. Tax returns were due yesterday in the US so it''s on everyone''s minds here. I actually got back a little over $1,000 this year.

I''m too afraid to do the math and figure out what % of my gross income I actually paid in taxes.

I actually got back a little over $1,000 this year.

Of which you are going to spend on Video Games I presume?

I had to cough up about $200 to the Feds this year. Oddly, I''m getting a refund of around $150 from the state.

Let me see in US $ that would be about $7500 bucks! damn tax!

"chrisg" wrote:

you guys must be kidding me. I have to pay 22% each month of my income taxes and another 22% social taxes. Or are you talking about the yearly tax report? I''ll be getting a nice refund there, since I was a student most of the last year ;).

44% of your income is taxed away? And they wonder why Germany is in the economic sh*tcan.

44% of your income is taxed away?

The UK is about 35% tax in total.

Here in Holland its progressive with a maximum taxation of 60% on every euro thats earned above 30k. The system is: 35% till 20k, 50% between 20 and 30 and 60% over 30k, taxation is measured over the extra money you earn over the threshold. Then of course we pay a standard VAT of 19% over every purchased product and things like petrol, alcohol and cigarettes get the special treatment of in some instances more than doubled prices with every extra € going to the government. Of course with all that comes largely nationalized medicare and a whole array of social security measures of which half on the population lives off.

Taxes. Oh, I paid those last year.

"Koesj" wrote:

Here in Holland its progressive with a maximum taxation of 60% on every euro thats earned above 30k. The system is: 35% till 20k, 50% between 20 and 30 and 60% over 30k, taxation is measured over the extra money you earn over the threshold. Then of course we pay a standard VAT of 19% over every purchased product and things like petrol, alcohol and cigarettes get the special treatment of in some instances more than doubled prices with every extra € going to the government. Of course with all that comes largely nationalized medicare and a whole array of social security measures of which half on the population lives off.

And I thought living in Germany was expensive

Ulairi: the amount of taxes is based on the income as is the social taxes. The latter is what is making jobs here so expensive, because it is parted half half between employer and employee. The upside of this is that we have got a really good social system feature wise :). But then I hardly ever had to use it. We need a reformation though and we need it quick. The reunion with the DDR broke the system''s neck.

"chrisg" wrote:
"Koesj" wrote:

Here in Holland its progressive with a maximum taxation of 60% on every euro thats earned above 30k. The system is: 35% till 20k, 50% between 20 and 30 and 60% over 30k, taxation is measured over the extra money you earn over the threshold. Then of course we pay a standard VAT of 19% over every purchased product and things like petrol, alcohol and cigarettes get the special treatment of in some instances more than doubled prices with every extra € going to the government. Of course with all that comes largely nationalized medicare and a whole array of social security measures of which half on the population lives off.

And I thought living in Germany was expensive

Ulairi: the amount of taxes is based on the income as is the social taxes. The latter is what is making jobs here so expensive, because it is parted half half between employer and employee. The upside of this is that we have got a really good social system feature wise :). But then I hardly ever had to use it. We need a reformation though and we need it quick. The reunion with the DDR broke the system''s neck.

Right but do you also shell out for Social Security and private insurance...? If you factor those expenses in our tax base starts ticking up sharply.

social security is covered with the taxes really well. What do you mean with private insurance? I currently have 3 insurances running: liability, legal protection and accident insurance. I have to pay ~100 euros for all three together per year.

I may in the near future pay into a life assurance. That would be 20 euros a month. Plus I invest in fonds for private old-age provisions for 50 euros a month.

All in all it is not a lot of money and it makes me feel really safe :).

All in all the part that is monthly deducted from our paychecks will be returned some time in some way, whether it''ll be when we are sick, old or jobless, the government will (hopefully) pay for all the expenses. At least that was the thought when the welfare-state systems were implemented, don''t know which way its heading though, things look grim with our conservative government and all

Ulairi: the amount of taxes is based on the income as is the social taxes. The latter is what is making jobs here so expensive, because it is parted half half between employer and employee. The upside of this is that we have got a really good social system feature wise . But then I hardly ever had to use it. We need a reformation though and we need it quick. The reunion with the DDR broke the system''s neck.

How much curruption is there in the social programmes? That''s just really shocking to me.

Bar to none here in Holland, don''t know how its goin'' down in Germany but, with the Wezzies being fine examples of righteousness and all, I have high hopes. Dunno for Eastern Germany though I would expect corruption to be a tad higher there.

Currently we are facing two problems with the social system:

a) too many people living on the social system who would earn less if they get a low paid job. So they think they are better of getting no job at all.

b) All reformations are hindered by the lobbies. Especially the unions and the physicians lobby are a pain in the butt. If this does not get better really soon the system will collapse.

But not with a big bang, rather gradually collapse.