Relocation, et al

[ehowton]

I was offered a chuck of money as a relocation expense. Though I've moved with the company a couple of times before, I've never used the official, "Relocation Department" which does, I admit, have its perks.

Unfortunately, it also has its shortfalls.

Did you know Relocation Reimbursement is taxable income? I didn't. Until last night. I budgeted on the amount I was offered, not knowing that nearly a third of it would be taken in taxes. That's ONE-THIRD of what I spent I won't be getting back.

I need this right now like I need a hole in the head.

I'm going to have to use a CPA this year. I need to get my State Income Tax back from Missouri, get back what wasn't reimbursed through relo along with what I didn't get covered due to it being taxed, the house I sold, the house I bought...what a nightmare. I'm not going to do this again. I'm done gallivanting all over the world.

---

I've been working on setting up my Solaris workstation at work for the past...I dunno, month? Its slow going because work keeps getting in the way. Its an aging Ultra-10 (read, IDE-bus) that I've put two 60GB ATA drives in and mirrored them. I put Solaris 10 on it and blastwave to gnu it up. I slapped a Raptor GFX framebuffer in it, doubled the RAM to 1024MB and installed a DVD-ROM (can't remember if I've mentioned any of this before) and replaced its 333MHz CPU with a 440MHz. I'm still not finished with it.

On the home office front, my beloved 68" Sun rack has lost one of its door panels (it had four). To fix the issue, a buddy at work removed a swing-door (which is nothing more than four panels held together by a frame, two cross-members and 64 screws) and the hardware from an Enterprise-6500 rack and gave it to me. Unfortunately, the 68" rack differs from the E-6500 rack insofar as the mounting brackets are on the right, rather than the left of the rack. This has caused me to re-engineer the door. First, I removed all 64 screws, reversed the frame, and reattached. Unfortunately, the 68" rack wasn't designed to accept the hinges. I mean, the size is the same, but not the holes. Still, I think I can get it to work with a little more effort. Awaiting my tools which are in the last P.O.D.S. which arrives today between 1400-1700.

---

I'd also like to introduce to you texas_tangent; A neighbor who's just signed up with livejournal. I hope you'll give her the warm welcome I know you are all capable of.

Comments

[wardlejew.livejournal.com]

Did you know Relocation Reimbursement is taxable income? I didn't. Until last night. I budgeted on the amount I was offered, not knowing that nearly a third of it would be taken in taxes.

Yes I did, But income is income, which isn't bad unless 1. they take it from your normal paycheck(so it really isn't additional income, 2. it pushes you into a higher tax bracket, 3. you are maxing your dependents now so the Gov. doesn't keep your money interest free, but now you have more income so you have to pay taxes.

I need this right now like I need a hole in the head.

You do need holes in your head. 2 to hear, 2 to see, 2 to smell, and 1 to eat. Some of those serve the purpose of breathing too.

I love accounting and taxes!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I am very thankful that there are people in this world who enjoy accounting and taxes. I am not among their numbers, however.

I had to double my 401k allotment after last year for the tax-bracket reason alone. I'm hoping this doesn't affect that. Either way, I'm looking for a CPA this year to deduct everything so it doesn't turn around and bite me on the ass.

Perhaps I should've stated that I don't require an additional hole in my head?

Have a FANTASTIC holiday weekend dude!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Taxes, like prescription drug programs, are nothing more then legalized theft.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Actually, with them being unconstitutional, they're actually not legal.

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Though you are taxed on the relocation allotment given to you by your company, because you relocated for a new job your relocation expenses are tax deductible. Also SAVE all your receipts that show sales tax on them from the state of Texas( I first wrote state of Taxes, funny huh) and I mean every one even if it's only $.50 because it all adds up. You can know take your sales taxes off your federal income tax because it is considered a state income tax.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'll try to scare up some paperwork.

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

1/3 of it?! Holy schnikes Batman. :(

The rest of the computer stuff is pretty much Greek-like to me, but hopefully you can fix the door properly.

Have a fan-frakking-tastic Labor Day weekend!


Oh yeah, that reminds me - when does season 3 of BSG come out? Hmmm...

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

1/3 of it?! Holy schnikes Batman. :(
ONE THIRD!

...but hopefully you can fix the door properly.
Thanks!

Have a fan-frakking-tastic Labor Day weekend!
w00t!

Oh yeah, that reminds me - when does season 3 of BSG come out? Hmmm...
I've been trying to find out. Nada. *sigh*

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

You will be happy to know the BSG season 3 soundtrack will street on Oct. 23rd!!!!!

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Check this out. "And Universal has finally announced the extras that you'll find on their DVD release of the Battlestar Galactica: Razor - Unrated Extended Edition on 12/4. You'll get deleted scenes, audio commentary with series creators David Eick and Ron Moore, 2 featurettes (The Look of Battlestar Galactica and My Favorite Episode So Far), and an exclusive preview of Season Four, which starts on Sci-Fi in January." from http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa142.html#life on 8/27

and http://thedigitalbits.com/#razart on 8/29

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Sorry misread it the first time. Thought you said season 4.

I did some digging though and this is what I found.

The season 3 soundtrack is coming out on Oct. 23rd as seen here. http://www.amazon.com/Battlestar-Galactica-Season-3-03/dp/B000UZ4C4A/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2892345-7487142?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1188615518&sr=1-1

In an interview here http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7084
Bob McCreary says the soundtrack release will coincide with the DVD release so if it not at the same time as the soundtrack should be not long afterward.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

hopefully you can fix the door properly.
Howton isn't an engineer, he sits on his ass all day!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

And engineers don't? What do you think they do, drive trains?

[prog-guy69.livejournal.com]

Some relo expenses are taxable and some are not. Some companies will "gross up" the expense so that they cover the taxes and you get exactly what came out of your pocket. I hear about this stuff all the time in the payroll department. It is not something that I have done in the past, but we are all taking a payroll course and I'm sure relo expenses will be covered.

Prior to working for Accor, the only thing I really knew about how to figure taxes, was to look in the IRS circular E. I've learned a lot on the job the past 6+ years, but there is a hell-of-a-lot I have yet to learn.

And to think, I was supposed to try to get my CPP (that's Certified Payroll Professional) certificate by the end of 2008. I'm thinking that's a no.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

They taxed 100% of what I turned in. It ended up taking nearly a third of the entire amount. I worked for a company which used to "gross up" things like bonuses. If they gave you a $1000 bonus, you'd get it in a money order or something. The last $1000 bonus I got from my current employer ended up being just over $500 in my pocket (they tax bonues more heavily than they do salary).

Asses.

[prog-guy69.livejournal.com]

They taxed 100% of what I turned in...
That sucks. What a bunch of asses. You actually lose money when helping the company by relocating and by having your relo taxed. F*ckers!

...they tax bonuses more heavily than they do salary.
Yes, bonuses are taxed at the "supplemental rate." I believe that is either 25% or 30% depending on you annual salary. If you have 401K taken out, that would explain why you may only see a little more than half of the bonus payment's gross. They should not take medical deductions out of your bonus check or relo check. Asses!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Taxes, like prescription drug programs, are nothing more then legalized theft.

[bsdcat.livejournal.com]

I have an old Ultra 10 at home not doing much anymore (too little time to play with all my Sparc hardware): it has a SCSI controller and a few SCSI drives in it, as well as 1GB RAM (I'm not sure what configuration). If any of that would help (the IDE on Ultra 10s is pretty horrible), let me know.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thank you - the IDE bus on the Ultra 10 was notorious for being slow even for IDE standards so the SCSI controller in it is a great idea.

As the Ultra 10 project is my work workstation, I wouldn't want to bogart any personal parts...but if you have a pair of 450MHz UltraSPARC-II CPUs lying around for my Netra t1125 ;)

Actually, I think we're going to EOL some of those procs at work and I'll swap them with my 400MHz's before we send them offsite.

Thanks again!

[bsdcat.livejournal.com]

Eh, in my experience... sometimes work workstations need a few personal bits to make you as an employee happier. :-) I've got a co-worker who brought in 3 20" widescreen displays (and a second video card) because the extra monitors were worth it to him, but the company wouldn't put up the $1k he spent on it. He's happier, whether work paid for it or not. Anyway, up to you.

Before I start using the Ultra 10, I'd need to put the E-450, E-250, and Sparc5 to work. (The Sparc5 is slower, but draws way less power and is powerful enough for a lot of home networking tasks, so it's better suited than the Ultra 10).

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to do this again. I'm done gallivanting all over the world.
Now that's a wonderful idea! One, I'm sure, your family will be happy with - let's hope you are! :)


Welcome to Live Journal texas_tangent!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Aye. I give us three years before we start getting restless again. Best laid plans of mice & men...

Have a fantastic holiday weekend!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

You haven't moved in and you're already restless. You're incurable.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

a third of it would be taken in taxes.
Taxes, like prescription drug programs, are nothing more then legalized theft.

I need this right now like I need a hole in the head.
A lobotomy would do you a world of good.

I'm not going to do this again. I'm done gallivanting all over the world.
Lying bastard. We'll likely read a story on your blog within two years about how you're moving to someplace else. I'll stick around to say "See, I told you so."

my Solaris workstation
I'll come pick mine up one of these days just as soon as I get a few dollars ahead in the world.

Still, I think I can get it to work with a little more effort.
The windmills are attacking!!!

I'd also like to introduce to you texas_tangent a neighbor who's just signed up with livejournal. I hope you'll give her the warm welcome I know you are all capable of.
So this isn't the psycho bitch?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Taxes, like prescription drug programs, are nothing more then legalized theft.
Actually, with them being unconstitutional, they're actually not legal.

A lobotomy would do you a world of good.
Not really.

Lying bastard. We'll likely read a story on your blog within two years about how you're moving to someplace else. I'll stick around to say "See, I told you so."
We'll see.

I'll come pick mine up one of these days just as soon as I get a few dollars ahead in the world.
The Enterprise Ultra 1 awaits you.

The windmills are attacking!!!
Just because somethings not easy doesn't mean its not worth doing.

So this isn't the psycho bitch?
Yes. We made nice and I added her to my friend's list. *eyeroll* Dumbass.