question(s) about taxes - just starting out, commuting NJ>NYC

[caspian915]

hey all,

I'm new to this forum, so please bear with me if this topic has already been addressed - I looked around a bit, but didn't find anything.

I am just starting out at a publishing company, just out of college and a mistaken foray into graduate school, and will be commuting to midtown from the Jersey shore for now. I can't afford to get an apartment in the city right now and I can live rent free for the summer (and into Sept/Oct probably) at a friend's family's place. I will also spend my weekends lifeguarding on the beach (been doing it for 7 years now) to add a little bit to my income. I will be making $30k/yr at the company to start off and approximately $170 gross per weekend at the beach. A friend of mine just told me I'm going to be taxed twice on my income and that it could add up to something like 30% or more. I don't have a problem paying income tax, at least in theory, and I understand reasons for a commuter tax, but it all assumes that everyone in NJ is a high paid corporate executive living in the suburbs with their own family - all of which I am not.

Can anyone give me a clearer idea of how this works and how I - making only 30k/yr - fit into it? What percentage of my pay can I expect to not see? I feel like this combined with the cost of commute will be just as expensive as actually living in NYC.

sps

[MrSpice]

hey all,

I'm new to this forum, so please bear with me if this topic has already been addressed - I looked around a bit, but didn't find anything.

I am just starting out at a publishing company, just out of college and a mistaken foray into graduate school, and will be commuting to midtown from the Jersey shore for now. I can't afford to get an apartment in the city right now and I can live rent free for the summer (and into Sept/Oct probably) at a friend's family's place. I will also spend my weekends lifeguarding on the beach (been doing it for 7 years now) to add a little bit to my income. I will be making $30k/yr at the company to start off and approximately $170 gross per weekend at the beach. A friend of mine just told me I'm going to be taxed twice on my income and that it could add up to something like 30% or more. I don't have a problem paying income tax, at least in theory, and I understand reasons for a commuter tax, but it all assumes that everyone in NJ is a high paid corporate executive living in the suburbs with their own family - all of which I am not.

Can anyone give me a clearer idea of how this works and how I - making only 30k/yr - fit into it? What percentage of my pay can I expect to not see? I feel like this combined with the cost of commute will be just as expensive as actually living in NYC.

sps

I think your friend is definitely wrong. There are lots of people that come to the city from NJ. You will have to pay the city tax because you will be working in the city and you will have to pay NJ and NY taxes, but one of those will be reduced because you pay both. So, it will not be twice for sure. It will be a higher tax than you would pay if you worked and lived in NJ simply because taxes in NYC are higher. Your taxes will be calculated on your paycheck for the city job. For the NJ beach job, you will probably pay just NJ taxes since the job is located in NJ.

I will let someone with real tax expertise to provide a detailed answer. But don't worry about it.

[shocka]

I travel alot and get taxed in every state I work in since I work for months straight so here is what I have witnessed and how i would expect your taxes to work out...

You will pay State for NY and NJ but this will be split. You will NOT pay NYC city tax since you are not a NYC resident. I lived in Long island and worked in Manhattan NEVER had to pay city tax.

Now I am unsure of this commuter tax they speak off, last I remember it was not passed yet.

A good source is to check out http://paycheckcity.com
I found them to be within pennies of what I take home.