eli5: If I work a lot of overtime, do I still get more money even though I’m taxed more?

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I usually opt to work more during the holiday season because we get higher wages (holiday pay). I signed up for a lot of extra days and my co-workers keep telling me that because I’ll make more money, I’ll get taxed more. So I’ll be receiving less pay than I’d usually make without the overtime. Is that right? I feel stupid right now.

In: Mathematics

15 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Lots of good answers here, but let me take a shot at the Eli5 version.

Yes, you get more money, but you also pay not only more tax overall, but a higher percentage of your earnings is taxed overall.

(simplified example, and not using any type of real tax code or %s)
Your normal weekly pay is $600 for 40 hours of work, with a take home of $500, meaning you paid roughly 17% in taxes total.

You work 50 hours, 10 hours of time and a half overtime, for a gross of $825, but a net of $660, paying 20% in total taxes.

You still take home more money overall, but you not only pay more in tax, but pay a higher % in tax as well.

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