Comments on: The Child and Dependent Care Credit Sucks (Or How You Can Tell That Congress is Full of Men) http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/ tax news, tax info and tax policy Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:54:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: magpie http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6899 magpie Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:02:22 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6899 Right - and if you're lucky enough to have a dependent care flex account, you're limited to $5K. Right - and if you’re lucky enough to have a dependent care flex account, you’re limited to $5K.

]]> By: Jessie http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6897 Jessie Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:28:11 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6897 Just to add..........I think this is the worst country I have lived in for child allowances. In Europe ( a place where Americans consider inferior to them) gives up to 2 years sometimes for maternity leave (in comparison to the meager 6 weeks here....and even then it's a hassle to get those 6 meager weeks). Imagine having to give your 6 week old little baby to a stranger while you have to go out to work? And a tax free child allowance is given EVERY month for EACH child in a household regardless of how much you make. This is not something claimed by spongers but is given automatically once the child is born and is every month up until they're 18. What a great way to ensure the future of your country and what a great way to give many parents the ability and more importantly, the choice to stay home and care for their children instead of having to dump them off at a mass daycare with no one on one care and attention. Just to add……….I think this is the worst country I have lived in for child allowances. In Europe ( a place where Americans consider inferior to them) gives up to 2 years sometimes for maternity leave (in comparison to the meager 6 weeks here….and even then it’s a hassle to get those 6 meager weeks). Imagine having to give your 6 week old little baby to a stranger while you have to go out to work? And a tax free child allowance is given EVERY month for EACH child in a household regardless of how much you make. This is not something claimed by spongers but is given automatically once the child is born and is every month up until they’re 18. What a great way to ensure the future of your country and what a great way to give many parents the ability and more importantly, the choice to stay home and care for their children instead of having to dump them off at a mass daycare with no one on one care and attention.

]]> By: Jessie http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6896 Jessie Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:21:43 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-6896 So, I see a lot of you out there disagree with the child tax credit and moan and complain about paying taxes that you think go to supporting parents who want to work. Do you also disagree that this country should support the unemployed? I mean, based on your comments why should we support someone whoe gives nothing or who pays no taxes. You are essentially supporting people who chose not to work. Some people lose their jobs due to the company failing and is not a choice by them. What about disability? Do you also disagree that you should not pay taxes to support people who cannot work and who have children? Would you prefer they starve and their children die due to neglect? While I agree to some extent that people should be able to afford the kids they have I also agree whole heartedly that they should be given some kind of relief for the daycare expense they are forced to pay so that they can work and contribute to the taxes of this country. If it wasn't for the government raising interest rates/housing and making things so much more expensive both parents may not have to work in order to keep food on the table. It's a long time since the ideal 50's where the dad earned enough for all and the mother could stay home with the kids. This country needs to wake up to that. In addition these children are the future of this country and do you expect the government to ignore the future of this country? I must admit though that I do agree the place is full of men because the plan is absolutely retarded. I would love to see them survive on the maximum wage they have crated and the maximum credit. Let's see them try. So, I see a lot of you out there disagree with the child tax credit and moan and complain about paying taxes that you think go to supporting parents who want to work. Do you also disagree that this country should support the unemployed? I mean, based on your comments why should we support someone whoe gives nothing or who pays no taxes. You are essentially supporting people who chose not to work. Some people lose their jobs due to the company failing and is not a choice by them. What about disability? Do you also disagree that you should not pay taxes to support people who cannot work and who have children? Would you prefer they starve and their children die due to neglect? While I agree to some extent that people should be able to afford the kids they have I also agree whole heartedly that they should be given some kind of relief for the daycare expense they are forced to pay so that they can work and contribute to the taxes of this country. If it wasn’t for the government raising interest rates/housing and making things so much more expensive both parents may not have to work in order to keep food on the table. It’s a long time since the ideal 50’s where the dad earned enough for all and the mother could stay home with the kids. This country needs to wake up to that. In addition these children are the future of this country and do you expect the government to ignore the future of this country? I must admit though that I do agree the place is full of men because the plan is absolutely retarded. I would love to see them survive on the maximum wage they have crated and the maximum credit. Let’s see them try.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5258 Gordon Fri, 09 May 2008 17:40:07 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5258 It sounds to me like you want the government to pay for your child care. Here's one thing I can guarantee. The day the government increases the Child Care Credit you'll see an increase in the Day Care prices almost proportionate. The same thing happens with student loans. The feds increase the programs, schools see an opportunity to jack up tuition. I have a client who earned $90,000 last year and paid no federal income tax; yet another had a liability of $8,0000, is it fair to have that disparity based on life choices? It sounds to me like you want the government to pay for your child care.

Here’s one thing I can guarantee. The day the government increases the Child Care Credit you’ll see an increase in the Day Care prices almost proportionate.

The same thing happens with student loans. The feds increase the programs, schools see an opportunity to jack up tuition.

I have a client who earned $90,000 last year and paid no federal income tax; yet another had a liability of $8,0000, is it fair to have that disparity based on life choices?

]]> By: Velveteen Mind - Megan http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5259 Velveteen Mind - Megan Fri, 09 May 2008 13:06:12 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5259 Okay, this post is what I needed for that interview yesterday with NBC Nightly News. I was trying to explain why we decided that, for now, it is more beneficial across the board for me to stay home, but I didn't have clear numbers to offer. Grrrrrrr. Okay, this post is what I needed for that interview yesterday with NBC Nightly News. I was trying to explain why we decided that, for now, it is more beneficial across the board for me to stay home, but I didn’t have clear numbers to offer.

Grrrrrrr.

]]> By: Fix the Tax Code Friday: Child Related Exemptions and Credits http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5260 Fix the Tax Code Friday: Child Related Exemptions and Credits Fri, 09 May 2008 10:51:45 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5260 [...] there’s been some discussion on the blog lately about whether or not parents should receive tax “benefits” in the [...] [...] there’s been some discussion on the blog lately about whether or not parents should receive tax “benefits” in the [...]

]]> By: Keith http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5261 Keith Thu, 08 May 2008 22:26:16 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5261 Just another way for the government to decide how much of our own hard earned money each of us need to live on. Just another way for the government to decide how much of our own hard earned money each of us need to live on.

]]> By: Urbie http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5262 Urbie Thu, 08 May 2008 18:58:04 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5262 Hi, Kelly -- Not to pile on or anything (I love your blog, don't get me wrong), but I have to echo Pat's and Mike's comments. My wife and I have no kids, which was by choice. Yet we pay thousands of dollars a year in taxes that support public services for other people's kids (no need to detail these; you know what they are). I have no problem with shouldering my fair share of social costs, and all that -- but it always seems as though every time Congress makes or changes a law, it's always in the direction of making child-free adults pay more and giving parents more tax breaks. "It's for the children" is getting tiresome. Sure, I have more disposable income than I'd have if we had kids -- but again, that's a choice. But yeah -- I agree with the basic point of your post: the child-care credit is very badly written. But since when do tax laws make sense?!? :-D Urbie Hi, Kelly –

Not to pile on or anything (I love your blog, don’t get me wrong), but I have to echo Pat’s and Mike’s comments. My wife and I have no kids, which was by choice. Yet we pay thousands of dollars a year in taxes that support public services for other people’s kids (no need to detail these; you know what they are). I have no problem with shouldering my fair share of social costs, and all that — but it always seems as though every time Congress makes or changes a law, it’s always in the direction of making child-free adults pay more and giving parents more tax breaks. “It’s for the children” is getting tiresome. Sure, I have more disposable income than I’d have if we had kids — but again, that’s a choice.

But yeah — I agree with the basic point of your post: the child-care credit is very badly written. But since when do tax laws make sense?!? :-D
Urbie

]]> By: Mike Piper http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5268 Mike Piper Thu, 08 May 2008 16:23:08 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5268 I have to say, I'm not a fan of the credit existing at all. The idea of subsidizing having kids seems like a poor plan to me. (I'm also pretty strongly against exemptions for dependent children, as you might imagine.) That said, I agree that it's implementation is terribly unfair to certain parties (such as business owners). I have to say, I’m not a fan of the credit existing at all. The idea of subsidizing having kids seems like a poor plan to me. (I’m also pretty strongly against exemptions for dependent children, as you might imagine.)

That said, I agree that it’s implementation is terribly unfair to certain parties (such as business owners).

]]> By: jonathanhickman.com » Blog Archive » Congress is full of men? http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5267 jonathanhickman.com » Blog Archive » Congress is full of men? Thu, 08 May 2008 13:54:03 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/the-child-and-dependent-care-credit-sucks-or-how-you-can-tell-that-congress-is-full-of-men/#comment-5267 [...] professionals writing tax laws, politicians are in charge. And sometimes it gets worse than that, such as with the child and dependent care credit: So, if those taxpayers who make a lot of money don’t benefit - and those who find it difficult [...] [...] professionals writing tax laws, politicians are in charge. And sometimes it gets worse than that, such as with the child and dependent care credit: So, if those taxpayers who make a lot of money don’t benefit - and those who find it difficult [...]

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