Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for June 29, 2024

Truth.

True, but is it really a problem?

Demonizing taxes is what we do.

This is why I’ve never understood why all too many people brag about their tax refunds.

Forced savings, no interest, but some appreciate it. I used to.

BTW, there was a Gment program called Ebond and they offered 9.6% for a 5 year commitment of $5000 up. Been there 3 years and I’ve checked and the interest is there. Just saying. Don’t think that offer that anymore

Sometimes it’s better not to know.

That’s interesting, I earn interest on my tax refunds, it’s tiny, but it’s something (another perk of not living in the US i guess)

That is just SO true, no matter what country you hail from.

Why are employers the strongarm of the IRS collecting employee’s taxes? Let everyone pay their own taxes on April 15th, then hold elections on April 16th….let people see the consequences of their last vote before electing or re-electing anyone.

I don’t mind, it’s not like you will get much interest on it any who. I don’t need the extra money during the year, so when I get it, I buy Kurtass something nice.

Nothing new there.

Taxes are what we pay for living in a civilized society. There are many that don’t want to be civilized.

Have you seen the interest rates for a savings or checking account? Next to nothing.

Doesn’t matter what it is as long as the check is big enough.

This is not specific to today’s comic, but I just want to say to Wiley: if you read this comment nonsense, thank you for producing your own nonsense Every Dam Day and brightening up my life. (I’m not able to speak for others, but I bet I’m one of millions.)

OMG!!!!!

When I did taxes, I made a customer angry because his refund was lower than the previous year. The fact that he made more money and paid less in taxes did not placate him.

If they do good things like build roads and schools, I’m cool with that.

If some “official” uses it to hire the not-best-but-able-to-pay-biggest-gratuity contractor to do shoddy work on those road and schools, I want them added to the foundational material, but SCOTUS has decided those kickbacks are now LEGAL.

Doh!

Understanding the tax code is like earning 4 years college credit in Sanskrit. Who you gonna talk to that understands it?

But if you’re in favor of big government, shouldn’t you just let them keep the overpayment?

I try to manage my taxes to within plus or minus a couple hundred dollars.

Within the guru tradition “revelation” is related to reality the same way sunlight by which we see is related to the sun.

Long ago, I could increase my number of “dependents” to minimize the loan amount. That got closed off decades ago.

It’s literally or putting money into an interest free savings account that you can’t use for a year. Be nice if we could break even on it.

Refund? They give those?

Correct!

True enough, and I’m OK with that. It’s not that much and a little bit of forced savings. Usually put it straight into paying off the principle of my mortgage. ;)

True, but regarding it as a bonus does help make the best of it.

The real truth is somewhere in between. It’s supposed to be a pay as you go system, with an account resolution at the end of the year. So the loan comment applies to your refund, not the total of your tax. And if you fall a bit short and owe (a negative refund) it’s the government that has loaned you money.

But if you just let the Government figure it out, they’d keep the extra money and it wouldn’t be a “loan” at all,

On the other hand, the money in your bank account is a loan that yields interest, but an insultingly small amount, and they charge you fees for the privilege.

There are so many possible alternatives to the final panel.

“Political promises are worthless. Look towards their history.”

“Estimates are only estimates, not guaranteed promises.”

“Businesses are about making money. Even if the business is promising to make you rich, they’re relying on you paying them your money to become rich.”

Abolish taxes for retirees

Funny nobody considers tax credits. No working class folks with kids in the comment section?

Very much a 10%-er issue. (Of which I am one. But I’m a class traitor and base my politics on the interests of the working classes)

Given how low interest rates are at my bank, it might as well be interest-free.Another revelation is that the reason tax forms are so complicated and the IRS doesn’t tell you how much you own is because the 1% and corporations made it that way so they can cheat the system and offer a paid service of filling out your tax forms. The IRS wants to provide a free service, but business lobbyists got upset.

If a malevolent AI were to take over, we could easily destroy it by asking it to explain the tax code to us!

Like the money in my savings account.

And if they’re late paying you back, there is no penalty

It’s not a revelation, when you only pulled your head out of the sand.

By government do you mean the Mobsters who offer me protection, for heading over most of what I earn?

Vote for President Trump for lower taxes, the economy was better during his administration and my check book was fatter.

The tax refund is also a forced savings that actually helps people live within their means.

Another, similar revelation (perhaps for another day): If you can get something for free, you’re not the customer, you’re the product.

A tax refund means that they underestimated how much money you have and undersized the budget.

I don’t mind. Otherwise, I would have squandered it on food and espresso.

Ain’t that the truth!

It’s an interest-free savings account, just like my real savings account.

What’s really cute is how the system works to make it feel like a bonus even when it isn’t.

Which is why we never get one and end up paying. We’ve had the use of that money for the past year.

Nonetheless, there’s something pleasurable about getting money from the government, instead of the other way around.

You left out the word “compulsory”.

Yep, some of us know that already. I would always prefer to owe than get a refund.

I have been trying to tell young folks this fact for decades. A tax refund is not “found money”. It’s YOUR money you let the government use interest free.

But just try to tell them you’ll pay the full amount on April 14 and see what happens.

That was true, until the refundable federal income tax credits came along.

The refund is also insurance against under paying and owing an extra fee.

Absolutely!

And that’s why it’s okay to squeeze as much tax return as possible within legal constraints.:)