My cousin is telling everyone that Obama raised taxes on his elderly parents

[LuckyTheDog]

So, my cousin is telling everyone that Obama raised taxes on his elderly parents

In fact, he made a post on his Facebook page accusing Obama of raising taxes on his parents' pension. He said it was just terrible that Obama is picking on old people on a fixed income. he revved up a lot of my relatives to chime in about the terrible impact of Obama's supposed tax increases.

The problem with all of this, of course, is that it is based on a lie. Obama has not raised taxes. In fact, he passed a tax CUT -- a big one.

I have no idea why my elderly great aunt and uncle are paying more in taxes this year than last year (assuming that is even true), but I can't think of anything Obama has done that would have caused that.

Am I wrong? Did the Democrats pass some tax increase on pension benefits that I an totally unaware of? I really don't think it happened.

[left coaster]

1. Better, still..

Why not ask your cousin to show you and everyone else he's shot his mouth off to, the proof of this tax increase? Put up, or shut up.

[havocmom]

2. Two questions for starters: A) Who figured their taxes?

B)Did answer to A know what they were doing?

Have friends whose licensed accountant told them they could not use any sort of alternative energy or building improvement to reduce energy credit due to the fact that it was on their business, and only solar, wind, or geo-thermal projects were allowed. They put in heat pump, which does qualify for geo-thermal project.

Point is, even people who should know what they are doing often don't.

So, first order of dealing with your family situation is finding out WHO said they had to pay more and IF that person knows wtf they are doing. Second, what sort of income totals do the people have, not just pension?

Facts matter. Get them lined up then clobber the cousin with them if they don't match his rantings.

[LuckyTheDog]

8. You see, that is what I think

I think somebody screwed up their taxes and they are blaming Obama.

[havocmom]

10. Seems likely. If they won't read enough to know there have been cuts for taxes on the middle,

they probably don't read simple instructions on tax forms either. ;)

[SPedigrees]

3. Isn't Pres Obama's mom deceased? Is Obama now taxing the dead? nt

[sinkingfeeling]

6. The English language is just too complex!

[LuckyTheDog]

9. OK... I should know better than to dangle a modifier around here (nt)

[Javaman]

11. You dangled what with the who? nt

[southernyankeebelle]

4. Well I am elderly and we are getting back alittle more than last year.

You are going to hear this allot. You have to call them on it and ask to show proof.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. If aunt and uncle are still working and make less than $250,000 they got a tax cut. Or they forgot

about that $400 tax credit.

[NNN0LHI]

7. My elderly mother will be paying more taxes this year than last year

Her tax rate didn't go up though. She just made more money on her investments last year than the previous year. She bought Ford stock when it was low and sold it after it doubled.

Thats the way its supposed to work.

Don