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Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Ben on January 27, 2015, 06:43:22 PM

Title: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Ben on January 27, 2015, 06:43:22 PM
Obama has dropped his idea of taxing 529 tax-deferred college savings plans. I couldn't believe he proposed it in the first place, considering how popular the 529 plan is not only with the Middle Class, but with the left and right coast liberals.

In fact Nancy Pelosi even told him it was a bad idea and to drop it. Nancy Pelosi. It's pretty bad when you're so far to the left that Pelosi has to rein you in.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on January 27, 2015, 07:04:55 PM
I was wondering if that was a feint to distract. It's hard to imagine it was serious


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Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: French G. on January 27, 2015, 11:21:57 PM
Damage done. Watch parents everywhere stop doing 529. Contributing extra to a 401K and using that for your kid's school is probably better in any case.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: RoadKingLarry on January 27, 2015, 11:42:14 PM
Well,  it's not like Obama ever had to worry about paying for college....
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: MechAg94 on January 27, 2015, 11:53:31 PM
Damage done. Watch parents everywhere stop doing 529. Contributing extra to a 401K and using that for your kid's school is probably better in any case.
Yeah, Democrats have never proposed taxing 401K plans before.   =D
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cordex on January 27, 2015, 11:58:37 PM
Yeah, Democrats have never proposed taxing 401K plans before.   =D
Beat me to it.

Same rhetoric applies.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: roo_ster on January 28, 2015, 12:02:20 AM
BHO has squeezed the rich as much as he can and is getting fewer returns as the rich maneuver their money to avoid taxation.  Funny how hte rich can afford good accountants and can arrange their lives to maximize their wealth.  Almost as if them being rich is not just some winning ticket in the lottery of life(1) but a result of other factors intrinsic to them.

The middle class is a big target (lots of them) and they can not afford to arrange their life to avoid taxation.  They get to take it in the face.  Besides, BHO despises the middle class.



(1) Credit to Richard Gephart
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 28, 2015, 12:18:37 AM
Obama to Tax College Savings: Women and Minorities Hardest Hit
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: French G. on January 28, 2015, 06:04:16 AM
Yeah, Democrats have never proposed taxing 401K plans before.   =D

Well, they are taxed at withdrawal. Of course the ideas have been floated to eliminate the pre-tax status of contributions, kill Roths and such. Those things by legislation are known non-starters because you can't implement your evil plan if you got voted out.

I think 401K will be more drastic. Make a big enough crisis, then nationalize all 401Ks by moving everyone to a gov't retirement program. Hey, if you can make them all buy health insurance, you can surely mandate what % all those young workers pay in. And don't work mom and pops, your money is all safe right in this big vault right next to the social security vault. We just had to do this to save you from those evil banksters.  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Gov't can't stare at a cookie jar as big as 401K is and not knock it over. I just turned 40, I contribute to a 401. I will also continue to take a loan on it whenever I can and buy durable things or at least things that have value in the real world. Hence my $1200 pantry adjustment in long term food this past fall. Or the primers I lost count of, etc, etc.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: brimic on January 28, 2015, 08:29:18 AM
Well, they are taxed at withdrawal. Of course the ideas have been floated to eliminate the pre-tax status of contributions, kill Roths and such. Those things by legislation are known non-starters because you can't implement your evil plan if you got voted out.

I think 401K will be more drastic. Make a big enough crisis, then nationalize all 401Ks by moving everyone to a gov't retirement program. Hey, if you can make them all buy health insurance, you can surely mandate what % all those young workers pay in. And don't work mom and pops, your money is all safe right in this big vault right next to the social security vault. We just had to do this to save you from those evil banksters.  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Gov't can't stare at a cookie jar as big as 401K is and not knock it over. I just turned 40, I contribute to a 401. I will also continue to take a loan on it whenever I can and buy durable things or at least things that have value in the real world. Hence my $1200 pantry adjustment in long term food this past fall. Or the primers I lost count of, etc, etc.

They are definately salivating over 401ks and Roths, and their hunger will only get worse. OTOH, I think its a triggering point and likely a line in the sand for a lot of people- steal a person's life's work and they have little left to care for- multiply that by millions of really pissed off (and armed) people.

Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Waitone on January 28, 2015, 08:29:33 AM
Hey, Boehner!  See what a little push-back can do!  All you gotta do is stand up on your hind legs and say no, and you too will win one or two.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: charby on January 28, 2015, 09:20:25 AM
Yeah, Democrats have never proposed taxing 401K plans before.   =D

I better get a tax credit the years it under performs or loses money.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: charby on January 28, 2015, 09:46:45 AM
I also wonder what the smoke screen from this bomb (tax college savings) is covering up or diverting attention from.

Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on January 28, 2015, 10:44:13 AM
I also wonder what the smoke screen from this bomb (tax college savings) is covering up or diverting attention from.

That was my thought too


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Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: SADShooter on January 28, 2015, 06:19:06 PM
They are definately salivating over 401ks and Roths, and their hunger will only get worse. OTOH, I think its a triggering point and likely a line in the sand for a lot of people- steal a person's life's work and they have little left to care for- multiply that by millions of really pissed off (and armed) people.



The "You didn't build that" position is evolving into "You didn't earn that" and "You don't own that". A battle between ants and grasshoppers is an unpleasant prospect, but I'm not certain it's avoidable any longer.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: RevDisk on January 28, 2015, 07:20:13 PM
If they grab at 401K's, heh, whole lot of people will not be pleased at losing their life savings.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Boomhauer on January 28, 2015, 07:33:30 PM
They may not sieze them outright, but I could definitely see a higher taxation rate or taking a "small portion" of it.











Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on January 28, 2015, 08:06:15 PM
Well slap me and call me Sally. This time boomhauer is more optimistic than I am


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Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cordex on January 28, 2015, 08:09:39 PM
They may not sieze them outright, but I could definitely see a higher taxation rate or taking a "small portion" of it.
Yep. As far as I see, all he was doing here was suggesting removal of the tax breaks for the 529 plans.  The same could be done of traditional and Roth 401k plans with serious impacts on the long term value of such plans but no direct confiscation.  
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on January 28, 2015, 08:14:45 PM
Yep. As far as I see, all he was doing here was suggesting removal of the tax breaks for the 529 plans.  The same could be done of traditional and Roth 401k plans with serious impacts on the long term value of such plans but no direct confiscation.  
And it wouldn't take a lot of spin for the politicians to convince voters that taking away retirement tax breaks is the right thing to do.  Anyone who objects can be painted as a rich selfish SOB who wants to take food out of the mouths of babies. 
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: RevDisk on January 29, 2015, 09:41:54 AM
Well slap me and call me Sally. This time boomhauer is more optimistic than I am

I concur with Boomhauer. Outright seizure would be illegal (not that it'd stop the feds from trying), but more importantly it'd piss off every bank, most companies and 88,705,000 voters.

Banks happen to like having about 4 trillion in assets that the owners of said assets cannot move or withdraw easily.
Companies like having 4 trillion dollars put towards purchasing their stock.
Near 90 million people are putting money towards retirement. They're probably more likely to actually be voters, but I haven't seen any statistics. Stealing money from 28% of the population won't go over well. 37% of the over-18 population. You'd really need to sell the other 63% in this case. A very large percent of that 37% would be willing to put campaign contributions and votes towards revenge candidates.

So yeah. Screwing around with the tax implications is possible, even probable. Out and out seizure? Not likely. There was significant push back against ACA/Obamacare, which was mostly screwing around with existing structures and not nationalization.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: wmenorr67 on January 29, 2015, 01:36:38 PM
Thing is a lot of the voters that support the left are the ones that more than likely don't have 529's or 401k's.  They could be sold on tax those or less tax breaks would mean more money to dole out to those that don't work.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Ben on January 29, 2015, 01:50:12 PM
Thing is a lot of the voters that support the left are the ones that more than likely don't have 529's or 401k's.  They could be sold on tax those or less tax breaks would mean more money to dole out to those that don't work.

Well, that's where that Romney "47%" (or whatever it was) quote gets interesting. Coastal and big city libs who make low six figure incomes (which is pretty middle class in a lot of housing markets) have mostly sided with taxing to support that 47%, which can make "tax and spend" a majority voter issue. If the Left in DC starts going too far and hitting the savings vehicles (whether it's 401Ks, 529s, health savings, etc.) that a lot of these "coastal libs" (for want of a better term) rely on, it could make things more interesting.

I notice the Obama clan has been careful over the last few years to make the lower limit of a lot of their "eat the rich" tax schemes around $500K*. I think they wouldn't have as much support at say, $200K, which is the combined income for a lot of people in larger cities and expensive housing markets, while still looked at as "rich" by not just the 47%, but by a lot of flyover country.


* Of course realizing that this "tax the wealthiest" stuff is really nonsense, since you could tax the wealthiest 1% at 100% and not make the slightest dent in the deficit and runaway spending.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: MechAg94 on January 29, 2015, 02:53:43 PM
Thing is a lot of the voters that support the left are the ones that more than likely don't have 529's or 401k's.  They could be sold on tax those or less tax breaks would mean more money to dole out to those that don't work.
What is more important to the Democrats in DC?  The voters who they lead around by the nose or the money guys and big businesses that feed them campaign money?  I think they have shown over and over again they care little about the actual voter. 
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Angel Eyes on January 29, 2015, 03:28:50 PM
What is more important to the Democrats in DC?  The voters who they lead around by the nose or the money guys and big businesses that feed them campaign money?  I think they have shown over and over again they care little about the actual voter. 

Replace "Democrats" with "Republicans" and it's still true.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: birdman on January 29, 2015, 08:57:30 PM
I concur with Boomhauer. Outright seizure would be illegal (not that it'd stop the feds from trying), but more importantly it'd piss off every bank, most companies and 88,705,000 voters.

Banks happen to like having about 4 trillion in assets that the owners of said assets cannot move or withdraw easily.
Companies like having 4 trillion dollars put towards purchasing their stock.
Near 90 million people are putting money towards retirement. They're probably more likely to actually be voters, but I haven't seen any statistics. Stealing money from 28% of the population won't go over well. 37% of the over-18 population. You'd really need to sell the other 63% in this case. A very large percent of that 37% would be willing to put campaign contributions and votes towards revenge candidates.

So yeah. Screwing around with the tax implications is possible, even probable. Out and out seizure? Not likely. There was significant push back against ACA/Obamacare, which was mostly screwing around with existing structures and not nationalization.

Its actually quite simple.  Have the IRS issue a "rule" that only treasuries count as tax delayed investments under a 401k.  They have ruled on it before (to cover self directed plans, precious metals, etc), and could again.  And whammo, your retirement contributions become govt IOU.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Boomhauer on January 29, 2015, 10:14:58 PM
Well slap me and call me Sally. This time boomhauer is more optimistic than I am


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Give me a chance to drop the other shoe

Quote
I notice the Obama clan has been careful over the last few years to make the lower limit of a lot of their "eat the rich" tax schemes around $500K*

Yep.

The increased taxation and taking a "small" portion will only be the first steps.

Next comes taking a large portion of the 401ks of the so-called "wealthy". The politicians love to stir up sentiment against the rich, so it'd be easy to do that.

Quote
Thing is a lot of the voters that support the left are the ones that more than likely don't have 529's or 401k's.  They could be sold on tax those or less tax breaks would mean more money to dole out to those that don't work.

This too. The FSA and hard core leftists will back it big time.



Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: birdman on January 31, 2015, 03:21:57 PM
Its actually quite simple.  Have the IRS issue a "rule" that only treasuries count as tax delayed investments under a 401k.  They have ruled on it before (to cover self directed plans, precious metals, etc), and could again.  And whammo, your retirement contributions become govt IOU.

And I'm not he only one who thinks this
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-30/another-step-down-long-slow-road-ira-nationalization

Where he outlines exactly why, and how.

Oh, and in case you missed it last month
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehopkins/2014/12/16/department-of-treasury-finalizes-rules-for-a-new-retirement-savings-vehicle-the-myra/
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Ben on January 31, 2015, 03:53:32 PM
Don't get me started on the MyRAs.

While it's always good to encourage people to invest in their retirements, the administration is way over-touting the MyRA. They're doing the hip marketing thing, acting like people putting twenty or a hundred bucks a year into an investment vehicle with a crappy return will see themselves sitting pretty in their retirement years. Nevermind the $15K cap to the thing, which in 30 years will probably be about three months living expenses for the average person. Some retirement.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Ron on January 31, 2015, 05:26:18 PM
Quote
The truly committed leftist looks upon our private savings as a vast reserve of capital unfairly withheld from its proper function of servicing the needs of the state.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Scout26 on February 01, 2015, 12:47:35 AM
What was it Margaret Thatcher said:

Quote
The problem with socialism is pretty soon you run out of other people's money.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: RevDisk on February 01, 2015, 08:26:06 PM
Its actually quite simple.  Have the IRS issue a "rule" that only treasuries count as tax delayed investments under a 401k.  They have ruled on it before (to cover self directed plans, precious metals, etc), and could again.  And whammo, your retirement contributions become govt IOU.

That I can actually see as being realistic. Which still wouldn't be direct confiscation. Unless you were forbidden from withdrawing out your funds, or given a ridiculously high withdraw penalty. Then yep, it'd be confiscation via creative accounting. Much like Social Security being a tax via creative accounting.

Credit unions are already have with capital requirement rules that essentially require them to buy government bonds. I could see the US government mandating more purchases of government bonds via creative accounting. Direct theft is a bit less likely.


Don't get me started on the MyRAs.

While it's always good to encourage people to invest in their retirements, the administration is way over-touting the MyRA. They're doing the hip marketing thing, acting like people putting twenty or a hundred bucks a year into an investment vehicle with a crappy return will see themselves sitting pretty in their retirement years. Nevermind the $15K cap to the thing, which in 30 years will probably be about three months living expenses for the average person. Some retirement.

What the hell is the point of a $15k max roth IRA with likely below inflation returns?  Seriously, that has about no realistic value aside from a tertiary retirement vehicle.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: cordex on February 01, 2015, 10:49:54 PM
What the hell is the point of a $15k max roth IRA with likely below inflation returns?  Seriously, that has about no realistic value aside from a tertiary retirement vehicle.
I can't figure out that max either. I get you can roll it into a Roth IRA, and I get there is some appeal to principal protection, but for a $15k upper limit with a low return it doesn't make sense.

Even so, I bet someone's pockets are getting lined by this idea. And I bet they don't have a $15k cap.

Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Sergeant Bob on February 01, 2015, 11:23:55 PM
Obama has dropped his idea of taxing 529 tax-deferred college savings plans. I couldn't believe he proposed it in the first place, considering how popular the 529 plan is not only with the Middle Class, but with the left and Least coast liberals.

In fact Nancy Pelosi even told him it was a bad idea and to drop it. Nancy Pelosi. It's pretty bad when you're so far to the left that Pelosi has to rein you in.

FTFY.
Title: Re: Obama Drops Proposal to Tax 529 College Savings Plans
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on February 04, 2015, 09:49:38 AM
Apparently Obama is already trying to tax retirement accounts.  His proposed 2016 budget would cap retirement accounts at $3 million and force savers to put the rest of their money into taxable accounts.

I found this article (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-02/the-problem-with-obama-s-plan-to-limit-retirement-savings) today, and in researching it I found lots of references to the same idea from back in 2013.  So they've been working on this for a while.