re: #393 Man, DangerMan

one big reason why payroll tax withholding became a thing was because people didnt have all the money at the end of the year to pay. they’d already spent it.

i find it interesting that people who pay quarterly estimated taxes are far less likely to overpay and expect a refund, than people who have paycheck withholding. also estimated tax payers are more likely to apply overpayments to next year’s tax to reduce the next quarterly payment in lieu of a refund. the timing makes it obvious.

They’re kind of related, and there also why people like having extra withheld. People are lousy savers. There’s always that one emergency or just that one cheap nice thing to have - like a trip to the movies - that takes a little bit out of your check. If you can’t see it, then you can’t spend it.

Tell people all they have to do to have a thousand at the end of the year is to put away $20 per week, and at the end of the year they will have $0. School fees, sudden expenses, etc, will cause them to pull from that pool. Let someone else take it out, and they can’t get to it until refund time.