It's all taxable

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

50% of Americans don't pay income taxes and those on UC are unlikely to be it the upper 50% of income. If you're getting a government check for sitting at home for 3 years, you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

You should talk to real people, rather than just blithely spouting media rubbish.

My husband was out of work half of last year. I don't really care to say what our total income was that year, but according to Census statistics released last week, 45% of US households had income in our range or lower. I can assure you most definitely that we paid income tax, even with last years $2400 break on UI benefits and claiming my college age son as a dependent.

[alienlovechild 75]

You should talk to real people, rather than just blithely spouting media rubbish.

My husband was out of work half of last year. I don't really care to say what our total income was that year, but according to Census statistics released last week, 45% of US households had income in our range or lower. I can assure you most definitely that we paid income tax, even with last years $2400 break on UI benefits and claiming my college age son as a dependent.

You count as a real person? I suppose so but you when begin with nonsense about the "media rubbish" when I quoted no one you deserve a mild rebuke.

If you paid income tax, it must not have been much and not worth complaining about as your husband got some direct benefits. My wife isn't employed and has been actively looking for work for six months as an RN. She isn't eligible for UI as she hadn't paid into it so we're worse off than your family. Oh, I pay taxes as well but it doesn't make any difference to me personally as I've never been eligible to get UI when I was unemployed in the past.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

You count as a real person? I suppose so but you when begin with nonsense about the "media rubbish" when I quoted no one you deserve a mild rebuke.

If you paid income tax, it must not have been much and not worth complaining about as your husband got some direct benefits. My wife isn't employed and has been actively looking for work for six months as an RN. She isn't eligible for UI as she hadn't paid into it so we're worse off than your family. Oh, I pay taxes as well but it doesn't make any difference to me personally as I've never been eligible to get UI when I was unemployed in the past.

I said "media rubbish" because the right wing media would like all of us to believe that figure of 50%.

No one can draw UI if they have not worked. Sorry about your wife not being able to draw but that's the way it is. And I don't know why you aren't able to draw UI yourself unless you aren't paying into the fund. The "taxes" you pay have nothing to do with being able to draw the benefit, which comes from employer contributions. If you are self-employed but not paying into the fund, that's your business decision and nothing more.

The point remains, we paid income tax. Despite being in that bottom portion of the US population who supposedly pays nothing. You cannot refute that no matter how much you spin it.

[mawilson 2,133]

I said "media rubbish" because the right wing media would like all of us to believe that figure of 50%.

The exact figure is 47 percent and it's a fact, Rebecca.

47 percent of households owe no federal income taxes.

Obviously, federal income taxes are not the only kind of taxes that people pay,

but the 47 percent figure is not wrong.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The exact figure is 47 percent and it's a fact, Rebecca.

47 percent of households owe no federal income taxes.

Obviously, federal income taxes are not the only kind of taxes that people pay,

but the 47 percent figure is not wrong.

*shrugs*

We paid federal income tax. Don't know what to tell you about your statistic.

[mawilson 2,133]

The point remains, we paid income tax. Despite being in that bottom portion of the US population who supposedly pays nothing. You cannot refute that no matter how much you spin it.

Are you sure you paid *income* tax, and not payroll (Social Security and Medicare) taxes?

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

all this quibbling over 3%?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Are you sure you paid *income* tax, and not payroll (Social Security and Medicare) taxes?

Yes.

[mawilson 2,133]

*shrugs*

We paid federal income tax. Don't know what to tell you about your statistic.

It's not "my statistic". If you believe the numbers are wrong, feel free to post a rebuttal.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

It's not "my statistic". If you believe the numbers are wrong, feel free to post a rebuttal.

What do you want me to do, scan and post the first two page of our 1040?

[mawilson 2,133]

What do you want me to do, scan and post the first two page of our 1040?

The fact that you paid income taxes doesn't disprove that 47% of American households didn't.

[alienlovechild 75]

The fact that you paid income taxes doesn't disprove that 47% of American households didn't.

She paid her income taxes and doesn't care that the other 47% paid nothing.

We have people here that won't use a search engine to look up some basic info but they can operate a voting machine and that's only part of the problem.

[alienlovechild 75]

The "taxes" you pay have nothing to do with being able to draw the benefit, which comes from employer contributions. If you are self-employed but not paying into the fund, that's your business decision and nothing more.

Maybe I'm wrong here but I thought you have to work for the year prior to getting any benefits. In my case, I was getting out of multiple colleges or working abroad. I applied years ago, got turned down and never asked about again despite being unemployed several times.

BTW, your employer contributions aren't the only source of the UI fund. Many states exhausted the fund and need money from the federal government so a lot of people are drawing more money than they ever paid into. The system wasn't designed to provide help for all beyond 6 months. After 6 months, it's basically welfare by another name. I know a lot of people are in a jam but that's the reality of a tough economy.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't see the issue. You pay taxes starting at a certain income level. How that income is obtained is secondary. Why should a household where one works and takes home 100K while the other draws 12K in UIB (combined income of $112K) pay less taxes than a household where two people work and take home a combined 110K? How would that be fair?

Edited December 24, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Maybe I'm wrong here but I thought you have to work for the year prior to getting any benefits. In my case, I was getting out of multiple colleges or working abroad. I applied years ago, got turned down and never asked about again despite being unemployed several times.

BTW, your employer contributions aren't the only source of the UI fund. Many states exhausted the fund and need money from the federal government so a lot of people are drawing more money than they ever paid into. The system wasn't designed to provide help for all beyond 6 months. After 6 months, it's basically welfare by another name. I know a lot of people are in a jam but that's the reality of a tough economy.

Yes, you have to be working for at least a year before drawing. Sometimes longer, depending on how that States program is structured. I have no idea why you would not have applied for your benefits later on when you had earned them.

A person almost always draws more than paid into the fund. The premium paid by employers usually starts at about 1.5% of wages.

I don't see the issue. You pay taxes starting at a certain income level. How that income is obtained is secondary. Why should a household where one works and takes home 100K while the other draws 12K in UIB (combined income of $112K) pay less taxes than a household where two people work and take home a combined 110K? How would that be fair?

I guess that's how Congress feels about it!