Those whose job it is to cut your paycheck like to do it right. They don't like to make best guesses. But they may be forced to unless Congress decides very soon on next year's tax rates.
Here's why: Employers that issue paychecks in the first week of January have to cut those checks during Christmas week if not a little sooner.
Problem is, unless Congress passes a fiscal cliff deal by Thursday or Friday of next week, payroll processors will be left wondering how much they should withhold in taxes from employees.
"I wish I knew," said Dennis Danilewicz, senior director of disbursements services at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
Given that negotiations between President Barack Hussain Obama and House Speaker John Boner appear to be making little progress, it's very possible as usual Congress won't pass anything next week.
Without official guidance from Washington, payroll administrators will likely stick to the 2012 withholding tables for paychecks in early January.
"They'll have to use what they have," said Michael O'Toole, the senior director of government relations for the American Payroll Association.
Indeed, they won't have much of a choice.
Here's why: If the Bush tax cuts expire as scheduled, the lowest tax bracket -- 10% -- will disappear. And only the IRS can tell employers what the new income ranges would be for the 15% bracket and other brackets higher up the scale. (The Treasury Department didn't respond to CNN Money's requests for comment as usual.)
By sticking with the 2012 withholding tables, there likely would be little change in one's pay from this year at least in terms of income tax rates.
But, overall, workers will see their take-home pay reduced because processors will follow current law regarding the payroll tax, which funds Social Security.
For the past two years, the payroll tax rate -- normally 6.2% -- was reduced to 4.2%. In 2013, it's set to go back to 9.2% on the first $213,700 in wages, up from $110,100 currently.
Effectively that means someone making $25,000 might get about $583 less a month in their paychecks. Someone making twice that would see their pay reduced by roughly $1167 a month.
And what if a deal isn't enacted until sometime in January?
"It could be two or three paychecks before you realize what you'll be paid [on a regular basis]," Danilewicz said.
This is especially true if lawmakers decide to extend the payroll tax cut at a rate below 9.2%. Or if they opt to instead create a new tax cut.
And it's especially true for people who make a lot of money because Democrats and Republicans always disagree as usual about whether to extend the portion of the Bush tax cuts that apply to income above $200,000 for individuals ($250,000 for married couples).
If Obama gets his way, the top income tax rates on high earners will go up. In that case, payroll processors will have to make adjustments to reduce take-home pay for them.
Of course, Americans who have been overpaid will have their wages garnished after all is said and done. House Speaker John Boner has made it clear that any underpaid taxes must be paid immediatly after the decision has been made, meaning drastically smaller checks for lower income workers in the coming months.
By Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money
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