reply on: What Frustrates Americans About The Tax System | Tax Burden of Every U.S. State \ stacker news ~econ

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @hodlme 8 May \ parent \ on: What Frustrates Americans About The Tax System | Tax Burden of Every U.S. State econ

It drives me nuts when people talk about what they're going to do with their refund, like they're getting this big windfall of their own money. Really you should be paying the maximum that you can without getting an underpayment penalty, which is the larger of either $1000 or 10% of the total tax liability for the year.

Let the cash sit in a CD or saving account and at least minimize some loss to inflation rather than give a free ~6 month loan to the government.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @HardRich 8 May

No kidding. Or, heck, maybe owe 100% and put the rest in something like Bitcoin that historically increases in value at a rate much higher then the underpayment penalty. Though, it'd be bad if it was a bull market.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @hodlme 8 May freebie

You know, I can't find a "repeat underpayment penalty", though the IRS does have a "negligence or disregard of the rules or regulations penalty" so I think if you tried to pay 100% on tax day you may end up paying more than Bitcoin appreciates/holds purchasing power during the year. I agree Bitcoin is likely to be a better place to hold that 10% for the year.

There's a statement when you fill out a W-4 that amounts to "I affirm that this should net to roughly zero at tax day" and they'll likely point to that when you try to not pay incremental taxes.