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What I am going to do with my tax refund.

Pilgrim

One Too Many
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1,719
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Fort Collins, CO
Mike in Seattle said:
If it's an annual thing, all a refund means is you're having too much withheld, and happily made an interest-free loan to the government...

Words to live by. Of course, as ones' situation changes from year to year, some adjustments are often necessary to minimize or eliminate the interest-free loan to the gummint.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have not been in a position to provide such loans for some years now.

One year in the early 80's, I actually did get a refund of some hundreds of dollars. I used it to attend a 2-day high performance driving session at the Bondurant School, which was then located at Sears Point Raceway north of San Francisco. I'd have to say that was one of the best investments in driving skill - and the most fun - of anything I've ever done. it was a blast!
 

carebear

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3,220
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Anchorage, AK
Pilgrim said:
Words to live by. Of course, as ones' situation changes from year to year, some adjustments are often necessary to minimize or eliminate the interest-free loan to the gummint.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have not been in a position to provide such loans for some years now.

One year in the early 80's, I actually did get a refund of some hundreds of dollars. I used it to attend a 2-day high performance driving session at the Bondurant School, which was then located at Sears Point Raceway north of San Francisco. I'd have to say that was one of the best investments in driving skill - and the most fun - of anything I've ever done. it was a blast!

That's on my list, the Bondurant or the Scotty school.
 

SinatraStyle

A-List Customer
Messages
443
Location
Michigan
I can think of many things on which to spend a refund...however, I'm only getting about $20. (I guess I did my taxes correctly this year...no loan for Uncle Sam.) No complaining here though...a check for any amount beats having to pay.
 

Dixon Cannon

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Sonoran Desert Hideaway
Huh?!!...

SinatraStyle said:
I can think of many things on which to spend a refund...however, I'm only getting about $20. (I guess I did my taxes correctly this year...no loan for Uncle Sam.) No complaining here though...a check for any amount beats having to pay.

Better check that W-2 again! The twenty dollars is what the government allows you to keep! You loaned them a portion of your earnings out of every paycheck. They keep the larger amount that you've loaned them over the year, and they "refund" back to you what they deem is an 'over-payment'.

It's an illusion created to make you feel like you didn't pay. Which is why in the private sector they call this sort of thing 'theft by deception'. -dc
 

BegintheBeguine

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Oh, I'd rather pay. I'm good at saving, luckily, because last year I thought I was getting a refund but got socked with a bill for tax, fees, and penalties for an extra 800 bucks! Still have to figure out who goofed and why. I didn't even work full time and I deposited $2000 into my IRA. Hmmmm.
Yeah, it's funny people's perceptions of taxes. When they say how much they get back I ask how much was their tax liability and they say HUUUUHHHHH????
 

carebear

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Anchorage, AK
One of my favorite scenes on the West Wing (which I watched mostly to hurl invective at the screen) was a discussion between one of the staffers and his staffer girlfriend(?) about a tax surplus. The Dem. staffer was trying to figure out what to spend it on and the lady staffer, once she figured out it was more than the govt. needed that year to run things, asked why they just shouldn't give it back.

He started in on "all the good they could do" and she just kept repeating, "But it's my money!"
 

carebear

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3,220
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Anchorage, AK
BegintheBeguine said:
I self-edited my post because it was getting political! lol To answer the thread question: if I had more withheld during the year and recieved a refund I would save it so I could visit the nearby Salvation Army Thrift Store several times each month. ;)

A very good use of your money. :)

I, however, had to pay property taxes with mine this year.
 

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