Finally, the weather has cooled. I had to break out the long sleeves. Fall definitely feels like it's underway, and not a moment too soon for my favorite holiday: Halloween!
Yesterday, I also decided to go vote early for the midterms, and wow, am I surprised at the turnout, which seemed rather numerous considering it's "only" the mid-terms.
Please bear with me, but I am really irritated at the GOP trying to, once again, control and dominate the opposition through selective wording on the ballot. On the surface, it sounds like a great idea as it basically says, "We want a Constitutional amendment to cap the amount local governments can tax American tax payers." Sounds great right?
Well where I live is a Gerrymandered red state, with isolated blue cities. So what these amends actually want to do, without saying it out loud, is to have the ability to choke off and restrict tax revenues for these blue cities, that would normally go to stuff ranging from road fixes to water/trash/sewer maintenance. If passed, cities would have no choice but to beg the state for additional funding and support. Of course, red cities shouldn't have problems getting it, but it's the blue cities that are going to have to bend to the state GOP's will. Sadly, most average voters may not realize that and will simply take what they read at face value, and approve of such Constitutional amendments. The GOP has been playing these stupid election games since all the way back in the Obama administration. The sad reality, though, is that it is working....
But OK, back to personal finances, I finally gave my investment company a call, and found out that my 990T payment did not get through to the IRS. I knew I set aside enough cash to pay for it, but I suspect what had happened is that I incurred more interest or penalty between that time, and suddenly, it still didn't work! I was so fed up that I sold off my entire positions in my Roth account, called up my investment company, and asked them to please pay off my taxes owed.
Don't worry, I'll buy it back again, though most likely something else. I have been overdue to rebalance my portolio anyways, so this all kind of works out.
Speaking of the IRS, I got a letter in the mail from them. I really thought it was going to something about the 990T, and good news at that, but it turned out to be something completely different. They state that, beginning 2027, if I qualify, the federal goverenment will match up to 50% of what I contributre in my retirement account, up to $1000 USD. Does that mean what this is caps at $2000 in contributions every year? What is even this? Also, if I am retired and not working, am I even qualified to do this? Does anybody know?
Ok, I hope everyone is enjoying the cooling fall weather. I know I sure am. It's so nice to not wake up hot and sweaty from the summer heat. Fall also means great looking produce at the grocery store. Have you guys noticed that, or is that just my imagination?