Don't Mess With Taxes

Good news in 2009! The hubby got a pay raise. And judging from my e-mails, so did some other folks.

But the little bit of extra coin didn't come from the usual or expected source.

It showed up in the first paycheck that my wage-earning better half got this year. When I first looked at the slightly larger amount on his pay stub, my initial thought was that he got his annual raise a bit early.

Then, after doing the per-pay-period math, I wondered what kind of cheap so-and-so's does he work for!?

I took a breath.

Maybe it was a holiday or year-end bonus delivered a bit late. That made more sense considering, as I noted, the relatively small amount of added income.

But the hubby swore that neither scenario was the case.

Then it hit me. The extra pay is from Uncle Sam.

When inflation is a good thing: Inflation adjustments that took effect on Jan. 1 mean that, for many folks, a little more of our money is in a lower bracket.

In 2008, for example, you could make up to $78,850 and your top tax rate would be 25 percent. Now, you can make $3,400 more, or up to $82,250, and still be in the 25 percent bracket.

Similarly, the wider tax brackets mean that, with our progressive tax system, more of your money also is taxed in the lower 10 percent and 15 percent brackets.

What these annual inflation bumps mean for the average taxpayer is a little more money. It's not that big of a difference, but every little bit helps, especially in this economy.

You can compare the two years' tax brackets here: 2008 vs. 2009.

Retirees get more, too: A quirk in the Social Security Administration's regularly scheduled cost of living adjustment has meant even more money this year for folks who get those benefits.

The 2009 hike of 5.8 percent is the largest adjustment since 1982. It will mean an extra $35.8 billion to retirees this year.

Beneficiaries can thank the oil industry for their bigger checks.

Social Security payments increase each year in connection with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. And last year's gas prices drove the CPI to new heights.

You can read more on the Social Security adjustment in this Forbes story.