Sacto's Tricks - The Latest is 10% Less in Our Paychecks

Post Scripts ^ | 10/31/09 | Tina Grazier

[OneVike]

Our lawmakers have a trick for you this Halloween. Starting Sunday 10% more will be withheld from paychecks to cover the states $1.7 billion shortfall in the budget. They say it isn't a tax increase, it's just an interest free loan that we will recover in April when we file our taxes. Gee thanks guys, we all feel much better now.

"California to withhold a bigger chunk of paychecks," by Shane Goldmacher and W.J. Hennigan - Los Angeles Times

The provision is one of numerous maneuvers state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved in the summer to paper over the state's deficit. Many of the changes, including the extra withholding, were little noticed outside of Sacramento. ** Savvy taxpayers can get around the state's maneuver by increasing the number of personal withholding allowances they claim on their employer tax forms, said Brenda Voet, a spokeswoman for the state's Franchise Tax Board. ** "People can get out of this," she said, noting that most people would have to change their allowances through their employers. California's budget leaders are banking on the hope that most won't. (emphasis mine)

But wait...isn't this the same state government that continues to hire new workers and expand government even as the state's population declines? Something is wrong with this picture...

[OneVike]

Looks like they still don't get it in Sacramento, but then again what else is new?

[gop4lyf]

Holy Cow! I cannot imagine losing another 10% from my check. Californians should be screaming bloody murder and showing up at the state capital with torches and pitchforks.

[KarlInOhio]

Our lawmakers have a trick for you this Halloween. Starting Sunday 10% more will be withheld from paychecks to cover the states $1.7 billion shortfall in the budget. They say it isn't a tax increase, it's just an interest free loan that we will recover in April when we file our taxes. Gee thanks guys, we all feel much better now.

Refile your W-4 with your employer to claim more exemptions so you have less withheld. Would the state actually refund the money in April or will the taxpayers' refund just be issued in scrip or even held for a few months/years longer.

[Texas Eagle]

Is this restricted to state “worker” paychecks or everybody’s?

[Glenn]

Californians should be screaming bloody murder

Didn't California delay tax refunds this year because they needed the cash?

Fools.

[doug from upland]

My state needs to file for bankruptcy. Maybe the only thing that can save it is a 9.5 earthquake that destroys Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica and much of Los Angeles. Then we rebuild.

[KarlInOhio]

It looks like the tax withholding is going up by 10% from the original state withholding, not jumping to 10% of the paycheck. The linked article states

"From a single taxpayer earning $51,000 a year with no dependents, the state will be grabbing an extra $17.59 each month, according to state tax officials. A married person earning $90,000 with two dependents would receive $24.87 less in monthly pay."

Still, change the W-4 so that you owe on April 15. You never want to expect a refund, doubly so with California now.

[Carley]

Wait till Obamao takes money out of everyone’s paychecks to pay for ‘free’ healthcare.

[Steely Tom]

Californians should be screaming bloody murder and showing up at the state capital with torches and pitchforks.

I don't think very many of them get paychecks.

[Natural Law]

"Holy Cow! I cannot imagine losing another 10% from my check.

It isn't that drastic. They are increasing the amount withheld by 10%. That means if they were withholding $100 they will now withhold $110. They are smart enough to increase the pain level to just below open armed revolt.

[OneVike]

Is this restricted to state “worker” paychecks or everybody’s?

Every taxpaying citizen in the state will be paying 10% more unless they hurry up and change the number of personal withholding allowances they claim on their employer tax forms,

[Texas Eagle]

Those bastards.

[Boiling Pots]

It’s not 10% of your check, it’s the witholding for CA income taxes is going up by 10%. If you made 1000 per week, and they took 100, they’d take 110 instead.

[When do we get liberated?]

Take 10% from welfare checks and there will be riots in the streets.

[edcoil]

Just in case you are wondering, yes dems voted for this but so did 6 republicans to get the 2/3 majority it needed to pass and, be signed by a republican governor.

note the no caps.

[OneVike]

And you are fine with that?

[Texas Eagle]

See post #12.

[Tzimisce]

Good thing the libs living in California don’t work. :)

[Tijeras_Slim]

it's just an interest free loan

Interesting definition of the government taking money by force.

[ronnie raygun]

When I posed the question.... what is the diffrence between a democrate and a republican.... nothing! It holds true here in California. Tax revolt on a massive scale is needed to stop the spending because they can’t or won’t.