As an accountant I’ve listened to several colleagues talk for hours about dialing in their W-2’s, some even under withholding and making quarterly payments to make up the difference. Calculating exactly what they are saving and investing that into a seperate account.
Probably spending more in fees than they’re saving. Let alone the time invested. I’m perfectly fine with the government slowly accumulating 1% of my income extra over the course of a year and sending it back later personally.
It doesn’t have to be that hard for normal paycheck people. Just set the deductions so you owe money trial by error style. As long as you get enough of a raise each year you won’t owe a penalty.
This is kinda what I do, I work out of state so I have been tweaking to get my state refund for one match the balance for the other because I’m too broke otherwise.
I’m getting $500 back this year. Sometimes I owe that much and offset with additional HSA contributions.
I don’t sweat it much beyond that. Just make sure I’m safe harbored and reconcile in February.
Unless we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars variance, the “free government loan” is entirely immaterial for most people, especially when savings accounts were paying a fraction of one percent interest and investments would either ring up ridiculous fees or require lot purchases far beyond the excess withholding.
I’m drinking beer this afternoon and don’t know if there’s a point to what I just said.
As an accountant I’ve listened to several colleagues talk for hours about dialing in their W-2’s, some even under withholding and making quarterly payments to make up the difference. Calculating exactly what they are saving and investing that into a seperate account.
Probably spending more in fees than they’re saving. Let alone the time invested. I’m perfectly fine with the government slowly accumulating 1% of my income extra over the course of a year and sending it back later personally.
$1,000 is a nice little windfall to get back in February or March.
$1,000 is a lot of money to suddenly have to come up with before April 15.
It doesn’t have to be that hard for normal paycheck people. Just set the deductions so you owe money trial by error style. As long as you get enough of a raise each year you won’t owe a penalty.
This is kinda what I do, I work out of state so I have been tweaking to get my state refund for one match the balance for the other because I’m too broke otherwise.
Fellow accountant here.
I’m getting $500 back this year. Sometimes I owe that much and offset with additional HSA contributions.
I don’t sweat it much beyond that. Just make sure I’m safe harbored and reconcile in February.
Unless we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars variance, the “free government loan” is entirely immaterial for most people, especially when savings accounts were paying a fraction of one percent interest and investments would either ring up ridiculous fees or require lot purchases far beyond the excess withholding.
I’m drinking beer this afternoon and don’t know if there’s a point to what I just said.
Yes. There is a point to saying you’re drinking beer this afternoon. The point is that you’re having a nice afternoon!