Taxed a lot because spouse makes six figures.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to figure this out. Spouse makes 160k with a bonus. I would earn 15k. He's saying I would be taxed 35 percent, just like him. My work doesn't take it all out, so come tax season, we would owe the difference. My work takes out whatever is "normal." I'm not considered a contractor. Paying 5k in taxes seems excessive for my small salary. I don't see any of the 160k. My husband takes care of the mortgage and everything else, and he says there's not much left over. Does it ever make sense not to work in cases like these? I enjoy working but work full days hourly, three days a week so it is a lot of time for not a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

He's referring to how you are taxed together at the same rate since you're most likely filing married/jointly. There are certain tax credits that you would not qualify for due to your income level if you filed separately.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/should-you-and-your-spouse-file-taxes-jointly-or-separately/L7gyjnqyM

But to your question about not working... I can't imagine how the extra 10K wouldn't be helpful to a couple making only $175k!

I'm concerned at your comment "he says theres not much left over". Sometimes the county offers a personal finance class. That might be helpful for you- I mean that sincerely. There seems to be a basic lack of understanding of finances.

[Anonymous]

He’s wrong. Assuming you claim the standard deduction, your combined taxable income is about $151,000 (less if you had any exclusions such as 401k contributions, health insurance premiums etc). That’s the 24% marginal tax bracket. Effective rate is probably more like 18%.

[Anonymous]

You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to figure this out. Spouse makes 160k with a bonus. I would earn 15k. He's saying I would be taxed 35 percent, just like him. My work doesn't take it all out, so come tax season, we would owe the difference. My work takes out whatever is "normal." I'm not considered a contractor. Paying 5k in taxes seems excessive for my small salary. I don't see any of the 160k. My husband takes care of the mortgage and everything else, and he says there's not much left over. Does it ever make sense not to work in cases like these? I enjoy working but work full days hourly, three days a week so it is a lot of time for not a lot of money.

if you file together and have joint income then its taxed as a joint pot....? Each dollar over a certain amount is taxed at a higher percentage and you are taxed on AGI, not total income. Is he telling you that your 15k coming in is taxed at 35% in isolation because that's a dumb way of looking at it and I am not even sure the 35% is correct- although maybe he means combined with state?

Your combined income is taxed according to the following brackets if married filling joint:

$0 – $20,550 10%
$20,551 – $83,550 $2,055 + 12% of the amount over $20,550
$83,551 – $178,150 $9,615 + 22% of the amount over $83,550
$178,151 – $340,100 $30,427 + 24% of the amount over $178,150
$340,101 – $431,900 $69,295 + 32% of the amount over $340,100
$431,901 – $647,850 $98,671 + 35% of the amount over $431,900
$647,851 or more $174,253.50 + 37% of the amount over $647,850


So you could just as easily say your 15k being the first 15k is taxed at 0%.

[Anonymous]

He's wrong. It's really like 23% plus FICA, Medicare and state tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

That sounds terrible and not work the 10k.

I'd find a different job with better hours and better pay, or stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

Why do you work then??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to figure this out. Spouse makes 160k with a bonus. I would earn 15k. He's saying I would be taxed 35 percent, just like him. My work doesn't take it all out, so come tax season, we would owe the difference. My work takes out whatever is "normal." I'm not considered a contractor. Paying 5k in taxes seems excessive for my small salary. I don't see any of the 160k. My husband takes care of the mortgage and everything else, and he says there's not much left over. Does it ever make sense not to work in cases like these? I enjoy working but work full days hourly, three days a week so it is a lot of time for not a lot of money.

if you file together and have joint income then its taxed as a joint pot....? Each dollar over a certain amount is taxed at a higher percentage and you are taxed on AGI, not total income. Is he telling you that your 15k coming in is taxed at 35% in isolation because that's a dumb way of looking at it and I am not even sure the 35% is correct- although maybe he means combined with state?

Your combined income is taxed according to the following brackets if married filling joint:

$0 – $20,550 10%
$20,551 – $83,550 $2,055 + 12% of the amount over $20,550
$83,551 – $178,150 $9,615 + 22% of the amount over $83,550
$178,151 – $340,100 $30,427 + 24% of the amount over $178,150
$340,101 – $431,900 $69,295 + 32% of the amount over $340,100
$431,901 – $647,850 $98,671 + 35% of the amount over $431,900
$647,851 or more $174,253.50 + 37% of the amount over $647,850


So you could just as easily say your 15k being the first 15k is taxed at 0%.

Wow!
I am a very intelligent and educated person and I have no idea that this is how taxes are calculated. Good news is that my DH does, as he is the family CFO and a finance exec and our family CFO. What class is this - Personal finance, Economics, etc? I have a lot of time on my hands and would love to google and learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

Why on earth are you working that?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you are making roughly $12/hr, give or take, to be away from your young family all weekend and thus making it so your family is never together during the weekend. I’d look for a different job that pays more for fewer hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

It sounds to me like your husband doesn’t want to give up his weekend to care for kids.

[Anonymous]

Can you get a job that pays more with better hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also usually request that they take out extra for your taxes in your paycheck (if you don't want to owe money later).

For your question "Is it worth it?". I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth all of that time for an extra 10K. What would you be doing otherwise if you didn't work?

I work on the weekends and evenings, so it's time away from my kids, who are toddlers, and my husband. Because I get home so late, we sleep separately.

It sounds to me like your husband doesn’t want to give up his weekend to care for kids.

I can't say I blame him. If I was the bread winner and worked all day, then came home and had to take care of kids solo, and solo on the weekend, and my spouse worked so late we didnt even share the same bed all for 15K, I wouldn't want DH working either