Reader considers asking for differently dated bonus check
Money was paid in December 2014, but reader wants to retire in June and therefore would be in a lower tax bracket.
DEAR HARRY: My employer gives bonuses to employees at year-end. We get the choice of whether to take our checks at that time or in January of the following year. I got mine in December 2014. Because of some health issues, I now intend to retire in June 2015. As a result, I will be in a lower tax bracket in 2015. A friend advised me to go back to the treasurer of my employer and ask that they void the check I have and issue me a new one dated in 2015. This will save me quite a bit on a $22,000 bonus. My tax guy said that this was bad news and could cause me some real trouble. Should I try to get a new check?
WHAT HARRY SAYS: Don't do it! Sometimes we are faced with a situation we did not foresee that appears to be subject to change. At other times, we are sure it cannot be changed. Remember what Omar Khayyam said in his own quiet wisdom:
The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on.
Not all your piety nor wit
Will ever lure it back to cancel half a line
Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.
The proposal cannot be undone without a huge risk that I prefer you not take.