How To Get An Instant Pay Raise / Taxes / Finance ReaDigg.COM

How To Get An Instant Pay Raise

As a gentleman was leaving my class recently, he wanted me to clarify something I had said. He was making sure that he should take his four or five thousand dollar tax refund and pay off debt.

I was stunned. This money represented $400-$500 that could have been in his pocket every month. A survey of my friends this week revealed one who was getting back $2800 and one getting $3300 back this year.

Getting a large tax refund (over $500) means you are having too much money withheld from your check every pay period.

Many people use this as a forced saving plan and it does not make any sense. You are loaning the government YOUR money, interest free. Every $1200 in refund is an extra $100 per month you could have used to eliminate debt or invest for your future.

I 'd venture to say that most people who do get large refunds could use this money every month to ease their debt burden. This burden frequently leads to late charges and higher interest rates. Instead, they like the feeling of getting that big check in the mail and figuring out how to spend that chunk of money.

The ideal situation is to either owe or get back $100.

If you get a big tax refund then you should adjust your allowances. The more allowances you claim, the less money is withheld from your check for taxes. It generally does not matter how many allowances you claim. If the government gets it's money they really don't care how many allowances you claim.

Here is how to get it right. Take the time to complete the appropriate worksheets included on Form W-4. The worksheets will help you determine your withholding allowances based on your income, adjustments, deductions, exemptions and tax credits. The worksheets can help you figure the right amount so you don't have too little withheld.

The IRS now has a calculator on their website which you can now access anytime at: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html

If you need help ask your payroll administrator at work or an accountant.

Keep your money working for YOU!

About Author

Leo J. Quinn, Jr. owner of is a financial educator from the Albany, NY area. For over eight years he has been helping thousands of people get control of their finances and get out of debt in a fraction of the normal time. He has a special offer for readers of this newsletter at

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Other articles in Taxes category

Year End Investment Ideas and Tax Strategies

First thing Monday morning I'm going to march into my boss's office and demand a pay cut so that I'll be in a lower tax bracket next year. Of course that's ridiculous, but isn't it about the same as the financial community's "Conventional Wisdom" (CW) for year-end tax planning? What... More...

Plan a Weekend Getaway on a Budget

(ARA) - Convinced there’s not enough time for a vacation? According to recent studies, you’re not alone. Vacation habits are changing as Americans log more hours in the office and watch their big-ticket spending. As a result, weekend getaways and last-minute trips are becoming... More...

Getting Help With Your Taxes

Preparing your taxes can be incredibly stressful. In many cases, it just makes sense to get some help with them. Save Me From This Misery! When it comes time to file taxes, you can look to software or a real live person. In this article, we are going to focus on living... More...