Well with everything going on in our lives, I am just now getting around to finishing up our taxes so they can get postmarked by Friday. I hate waiting until the last minute, but for some reason this year it seemed inevitable. And how depressing is it that we always end up having to pay at least one entity, whether it be federal, state or local. Correction, we ALWAYS have to pay local. Local taxes around here are something akin to being raped.

First off, Richard works in another city and we pay their city tax of 2%; however, Lancaster’s tax rate is 1.6%. Now you would THINK we would/should get credit for 2% we are paying to the other city and even if we didn’t get a refund for the .4% difference we would at least not have to pay Lancaster out of our pocket after withholding each year. Not so, says Lancaster, who only allows you to get a credit for 1% of the tax rate you pay to another city.

Now you would think it would be bad enough that we end up having to pay 2.6% local income tax when really we should only have to pay 1.6%, BUT unlike most income tax, Lancaster’s local tax allows you NO exemptions. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. So that .6% extra that we pay is on our gross pay, period. Which makes that .6% more like 1-2%

Oh how I hate the tax system, please, PLEASE can’t we just go to a flat sales tax!!!