fatbrit

Use the Federal Reserve published rates.

Jaxbar

Cheers, beginning to wish I'd never said yes to that first bloody dance

fatbrit

Thought girls from Bradford were made of sterner stuff!

Jaxbar

Well I just got the "we lost your green card, or didnt process, dont give a damn please come 400 miles and apply again notice" today, so am feeling sorry for myself. back on the red wine.

paul_TX

I thought taxes were confusing, but now you've got me wondering what the best part of a pony really is . I'm guessing it would be it's legs because a pony is worthless without them

fatbrit

fünf hundert nicker, ain't it?

AmerLisa

I was just having a look at Turbo Tax online and putting some early figures in, and for some reason it won't let me take a childcare credit......anyone have any idea what that's all about? Its says that two people can't have earned income in order to qualify? LOL I must be doing something wrong.

snowbunny

The EIC is for single-earner households. What you want, if it's for daycare, is dependent care deductions.

AmerLisa

I see.....so because we both worked and paid for childcare, we are out of luck. Hmmm.....I wonder if I can take my job's before tax childcare payment option later this year? That irritates me that we can't claim that.

snowbunny

Yes, you should set up a DCAP (dependent care account) which is an FSA (flexible savings account). I'm very unhappy that my employer does not offer either a DCAP or a medical savings plan. It's the way to go.

That said.... you can STILL take the dependent care deduction/credit..... are you itemising? I can't remember if it is one of the ones that can only be taken if you itemise.

AmerLisa

Well yes I'm itemising some things, i.e. mortgage interest payments. However, I can't claim dependent care.....what a royal pain. Oh well.

snowbunny

Why not? The care cannot have been provided by someone without a tax number; the care had to take place whilst both of you were working (not hours, but calendar dates).... if you had a relative watch your daughter, who doesn't have a tax ID number, then no, you cannot take the credit for whatever you paid him/her. Else you can.

Offlist me if you need more information.

AmerLisa

This is what I don't understand either..... I'm using Turbo Tax online and they are not letting me do a childcare credit. It doesn't make any sense to me..... I had no problems with them last year.....but it was pretty straightforward.

John Murray

2005 tax year will be my first full year here in US. I'm using Turbotax to file online - but so far, after entering our W2 information, we owe Uncle Sam a couple of thousand! :scared:

I guess we screwed up the W-4 form. My wife and I both but down Married, and only one exemption on each of our w4's at work. We both earn about the same and pay about the same tax.

What should we put on the w4 form to prevent us having to pay money at the end of next year?

fatbrit

Paying money is good! Be happy!