Besides the Forbes list remember stuff like tax credits not available to the DC area "wealthy" with modifed adjusted gross incomes of $180,000 for married joint filers.

Voting Republican forevermore. We got killed.

Summary from Forbes:

Now, let’s get to the good stuff. As you may remember, 2013 was a pivotal year in tax policy. Beginning on January 1st, a series of tax increases proposed and signed into law by President Obama came into effect, including:


A new maximum rate on ordinary income of 39.6%. The rate applies only to taxable income in excess of $450,000 (if married filing jointly, $400,000 if single).
A new maximum rate on qualified dividends and long-term capital gains of 20%, but once again, only if the taxpayer’s taxable income exceeds $450,000/$400,000.
A resuscitated limitation on itemized deductions; taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $300,000 (if married filing jointly, $250,000 if single) lose 3% of most itemized deductions (maxing out at 80% of itemized deductions) for each dollar adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold.
A taxpayer’s personal exemptions are phased out once adjusted gross income exceeds the $300,000/$250,000 thresholds. Mechanically, once a married taxpayer has adjusted gross income in excess of $400,000, the exemptions are gone.
A new payroll tax was born. Starting in 2013, taxpayers with earned income from wages or self-employment income in excess of $250,000 (if married filing jointly, $200,000 if single), will pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on the excess earnings.
Lastly, and perhaps most famously, taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $250,000 (if married filing jointly, $200,000 if single), will pay an extra 3.8% surtax on “net investment income,” which includes items such as interest, dividends, capital gains, rents, and royalties.

We owed 7k and like a PP said, our accountant mentioned something about the Medicare tax increase, and also having good cap gains. It was a shock since we have been getting nice refunds for the last few years.

We bought a new house this year and despite what people often say, we saw little tax benefit from it.

Anonymous wrote:Our accountant says its because out investment portfolio did so well this year -- and they didn't anticipate such a jump so very little planning went into protecting our earnings from such steep taxes. We do the basics - try to max out our pre tax accounts and fund everything - not sure what else we can do to avoid this happening again. Ugh.

Did you sell stocks? Otherwise how would you be taxed?

We have a 9k Bill for federal (MD owes us $26, so there is that I guess). Can't tell how much is increased taxes vs a bunch of options we exercised. I don't feel too bad for us...we make 200+ and I feel really lucky.

Ours did not jump. Our income rose about 5% and our taxes rose accordingly. Our HHI is in the $175k range.

We did too. Owed 9k.

Yes, we got crushed this year. Our salaries are all income so there has been nothing but increases the last couple of years..,

Yes. Minimum 3% higher rate due to the loss of the 2% reduction in SS last year plus the .9% Medicare kicker.

Yes, yes, yes.

Anonymous wrote:...and what have we gotten for all our money?

Beats me.

Yes 70k extra (we hadn't bumped up our withholdings). I knew it would be something but not that much. Sucks.

*mine

My went down.