Originally Posted by
EWRflyr
We do? Maybe just the SS portion if that is allowed to revert back to the 2% higher rate it once was. However, it's still going to be federal taxed at a 25% bonus and then all your other state and local taxes plus ALPA dues will be taken out.
As was stated on the news this morning, tax rates aren't going to "snap back" to the previous rates on January 1st. Technically, yes, but in actual terms payroll processors aren't going to change their systems for the first month of the year in anticipation of even a short term extension being done. Payroll systems will have to adjust if there isn't a deal by the end of January to the first week of February.
However, barring that, you'll still get it back in your taxes. I know, I want it now, too, not the overpayment as a refund in 2014. But since the president has moved his number up to the $400K mark and Boehner has come down to $1,000,000 your actual tax on this isn't likely to be different than what you are paying now.
I agree with what you're saying, but the tax issue to me is less about the fiscal cliff, and more about my taxable income in 2012 vs 2013. I'm fairly confident that my marginal tax rate in 2012 will be 15% (taxable income less than $70,700), but with the pay raise from the contract, my marginal rate in 2013 will be 25%. If my DOS retro is $20,000, that's a tax hit of $2,000 plus another $400 (2%) for the payroll tax increase. That's a big deal in my world, but I'm sure most guys will be at or above 25% marginal rate either way.