The 2013 Payroll tax increase is eating my Paycheck but dont'cha think Military personnel should be exempt?

[MisterMajestic]

This forum has been rather quiet about the Payroll tax increase...I had no clue last month that the Fiscal-Cliff deal inked in the Senate would cause Payroll taxes to go up. None of you Big Mouths here in CE&P said shit about it. Not one opportunistic Congressman rushed to the Cameras to talk about it. Then I get information from my employer explaining in full detail. I said to myself “Damn them to the River”…I also felt that if Congress had a choice to extend Unemployment benefits or increase Payroll taxes they should have just screwed over those currently Unemployed. Then seconds later I came to my senses and realized I was so wrong for thinking that way. There are millions of people on unemployment and they need those benefits to survive. I can survive the Payroll tax increase but it still puts a dent in my money that I HATE. It just Jacked up my New Year right out the Gate…

Recently I read a message online from a Lower enlisted Soldier stating how he’s making next to nothing in the service and the Payroll tax increase will hurt him and his family. That is just CRAZY. Military personnel should be exempt from Payroll taxes period or at LEAST Exempt from any increases when we are at War. We’re asking them to do multiple Tours and we’re hitting them up with a Payroll tax reducing their pay? I don’t care if the Soldier is single with no Kids he should be EXEMPT…Period….

What do you Guys think? Have you already gotten use to getting a smaller Check or has it F’ed you up?

[Rolyo85]

I am not sure why you think soldiers should be exempt? Not trolling, just not following your train of thought.

[maxpowr9]

Companies already get a kickback for hiring veterans.

As I said in another thread, just wait till the healthcare costs hit you like a ton of bricks. $2k/month for family? Yeah, GL with that.

[JockBoy87]

Expiration of tax cuts hurts, but we wouldn't have a military without them.

[JayHawk]

Okay first of all keep up would ya? We talked about that in depth and often.

The payroll tax was reintroduced because republicans dont mind taxing the poor and democrats wanna keep social security insulated from our budget woes. The payroll tax holiday made up for the lack of payroll tax revenue by dumping a lump sum from the treasury into the SS coffers. That occurred from 2009 until now BUT other than that Social security has nothing to do with our budget or our deficit.

Second, I agree the military should not be taxed at all. I am paid from taxes. SO why go through the machinations to cause me to pay income tax? it makes no sense. That is just a red tape cycle of SHIT. If you don't want me to have the 16,000 I will pay this year then please just don't give it to me in the first fucking place. I mean seriously. Why go through the motions? If I have investments or business interest or other income then sure but on money coming from the treasury??? makes zero sense.

Third if that guy is deployed he isn't paying taxes. Period. In a war zone you are exempt. My 2011 income was about 1/3 the taxable income because of the war zone time. I got a HUGE fucking return.

Fourth, that Soldier or Sailor volunteered and when they volunteer in 2010 or 2011 then they KNOW what the deal is and what they will be doing.

Fifth, the military bases and family organizations that are geared for soldiers and sailors and particularly those young couples enduring their first deployment are top fucking notch. They provide assistance to government benefits and other nods such as spouse preference for hiring around and on bases, free daycare that is nationally recognized, medical, dental, free housing and every other help and assistance. His wife can go to school on his GI Bill to better themselves. There is so much more in that opportunity than any other job on the planet much less in the United States. We treat our servicemen to truly a full smorgasbord of social benefits. We also have no choice in many things so we joke that a Socialist Dictatorship defends Democracy.

Sixth, Some junior Sailors with dependents qualify for some of our social safety net programs. THAT is fucking bullshit. Pay them at least enough to be a living wage. However that said we have policy that should make most of those situation a-typical. A junior sailor with dependents must be waived to join the service and during that process they are made aware of how tight the first two years will be. Everything is earned including rank and higher pays. Still some agree to bear the burden so they can reap the benefits. They do so in full knowledge.

Seventh, Military pay actually eclipses civilian pay when you compare apples to apples IF you add in the non-monetary benefits. Usually each job you can simply ad 15 to 20 thousand (depending on number of family members).

So yeah I hear ya. A guy was bitching and it feels funny because we as a country ask so much. Yet they earn a good wage and far superior benefits. Many of those benefits that will last a lifetime.

Edit: Bolded the Rolyo response....

[MisterMajestic]

True JB but did you know that a lower enlisted Soldier can make as low as $900 a month? Maybe a Single soldier can survive but what about a Soldier with a Family? You know the payroll tax is gonna hurt'em even more....

[crimsonpaine]

It's a bitch, but the "increase" is just a return to where it was prior to the cut. I've always claimed zero deduction on my payroll, always paranoid about not enough taxes coming out, but this year I am claiming one exemption, and by doing that I increased my paycheck.

[JockBoy87]

True JB but did you know that a lower enlisted Soldier can make as low as $900 a month? Maybe a Single soldier can survive but what about a Soldier with a Family? You know the payroll tax is gonna hurt'em even more....

Are there other benefits to enlistment, other than wages?

[Orlandude]

Are there other benefits to enlistment, other than wages?

Just to mention a few...

Medical benefits for life at any Veterans Administration (VA) medical facility in the nation.
College tuition payments and reimbursements.
The ability to buy a home under the VA where the government guarantees the mortgage, provides the mortgage thru private lenders with no money down and exempt from having to pay private mortgage insurance.
Free burial in any National cemetery.

[loki81]

if he's unhappy with the compensation paid by the job he chose to do, he should find a new one?

[JockBoy87]

if he's unhappy with the compensation paid by the job he chose to do, he should find a new one?

Contracts, don't you hate em?

[White Eagle]

No taxes period for military!

[justdra]

My check only went down about $10 so I barely noticed it until the people at work starting talking about it. We got emails late last year telling us there was going to be an increase in taxes. The past decade or so I've always gotten extra money taken from my state and federal because I never wanted to wind up paying in on income taxes. I could never figure out how to "break even" and I would have having to pay back so this worked out best for me and each year when I get my income tax I just save it (or attempt to, lol).