Not OT: Help Get Ellice a Job

Gee - add me finding a job allows me to be enabled by her! Southern NH jobs only please. Can't afford Mass taxes....

lPlease don't hesitate to put my name on the list. She got to me too.

Lucille

Feh. You make it sound as if Mass income taxes were onerous. You'd still have more money when they got done than you would if you didn't work at all.

Elizabeth (paid by Mass taxes)

True, but the Great State of MA likes to tax you on all your income (like spousal income, investments, etc), not just what was earned by employment with in the state. The only way around is to file all taxes separately and put any MA income into single holder account or be prepared to fight over what you owe for taxes each and every year. (my neighbors go through it at least 1 year in 3). So, 15% of what I make goes out the window, plus commuting costs and the threat of yearly auditing, no thanks

Now, if it only went to pay you and other teachers, I suppose I wouldn't mind as much. \

Cheryl

Huh. I paid taxes on wages earned in MA while living in another state for 25 years (1977-1993 (in '93, I filed in 3 states)) and never ran into that. It was a while ago, though, and there's no little antagonism built up about people who do things (including live) in NH to avoid MA taxes, so I suppose things have changed quite a bit in the interim.

Elizabeth

It's been going on since about 1988 - when DH and I got married until I stopped working when DD was born and again when DH was briefly working in MA. I suspect it has to do with income level and out staters have a hard time getting deductions.

If they'd respect my out of state income, I think I'd see my way clear to looking harder south of the border. But, I've heard from a few sources that even if I'm insured under another person, I have to pay for health insurance that I don't want/need.

Anytime.

OK.

Ellice, I am offering you the 30-second course in legal proofreading. We need someone in our consortium who is fully conversant in both medicalese and engineerese.

You are toooooo funny. I'm really hopeful that something will come of the last week plus of interviews. And, WRT the shop - well, I'm still the "manager" albeit the owner can't really afford to pay me, but needs the services - so I'm keeping some things straight, and will continue to teach. It's a long story.

That said - I'm certainly open to anyone networking in the DC area. I've joined Linked In - which is like facebook for adults - and in this area is a serious thing with jobs not advertized elsewhere. I just hate doing all this e-networking stuff.

Oh, well, enough of my woes. We just got home about 15 min ago, I'm cooking dinner - well just ran upstairs to change to cooler clothes. Had to drive into DH's work - 23 miles - cause the Audi (with the gas computer chip malfunction) ran out of gas as he literally pulled past the guard shack entry - with one of the guards nicely pushing him around the drive of the visitor office so he could park the car and then walk across campus to his office. So, I had to drive in - during rush hour - YEAH Beltway and American Legion Bridge - crossing both ways - to bring him gas, then come home which took twice as long.

Enough whining - all job offers will be entertained ;^)

ellice

I meant to say 15 years, not 25. Wooops.

Your sources are incorrect. The mandatory insurance law applies to MA residents only AND the penalty is paid at tax time. Your employer has to make insurance available to you if they employ more than 10 people, but you can refuse the coverage.

Link up to me, please! And then I'll link you up with a friend in the DC area who may know someone or something.

Cheryl, I think that health insurance requirement is for *residents* of MA, not people who just work here. Also, if a resident is covered under someone else's insurance, they're good, as well. Just my 2¢; no tax or insurance expert.

-- Carey in MA

I can do that. Contact me separately if you're serious. I've actually put in for some technical writing jobs.

Ellice

Will do. I'm not particularly adept at using it yet - but can manage that!

Ellice

All I know is what I've heard from a few techie friends with NH coverage through a spouse. Their employers make seem as if they must take the health insurance. My suspicion is that the mid size employers need every body they can get under the various plans to keep costs down.

Cheryl

Well, if that's what's happening, it's a gross misapplication of the law, which says that all residents must buy insurance or lose their personal exemption (often the cheaper option) and that all employers with more than 10 full time employees must make insurance available. It says nothing about where the resident has to get that insurance.

It is a new law, though, so I'm sure there are some kinks to work out.

Elizabeth

Honestly, more like business as usual. I had a fair bit of pressure to take the company plan vs an HMO or opting out, long prior to that law. Never forget that insurance is a business too and one that wants to make a profit.

Cheryl

Right, but at that point, you can't blame it on the company being in Massachusetts, but rather as a commonality to businesses everywhere. DH has to formally opt out of his insurance every year, too, because he's on mine.

Elizabeth

DH had no such pressure to take any insurance (not that he refused it either) when he went to Sanders. If you opt out, you opt out

Right, but again, that's company by company, not state by state. DH is employed in Ohio and he does have to opt out.

Elizabeth