(December 16, 2011 at 6:02 am)aleialoura Wrote: No, wrong, sorry. She paid that $4000 dollars. The government borrowed a little out of her fucking paycheck every week, and at the end of the year, she submits proof that she's poor enough to need it back.
Not in this case, Alei. She's poor enough that she has nothing deducted from her check - because even absent credits, she'd have no tax liability to either the IRS or state income tax authority.
The $4000 is mostly from the Earned Income credit, which is paid to wage earners that qualify. It doesn't offset taxes owed, it is literally an annual welfare payment (or wealth redistribution if you prefer).
Some people might have a problem with some of the money they pay in income taxes going to a single mother of 2 abandoned by her spouse, no real job skills, who can't afford child care, and is attending a vocational school at night so she can get out of the poverty she has found herself in. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, and I wouldn't even if she wasn't a friend.
