Click on a question to see the answer.
Question: Why does the total expense number on the state's financial affidavit not match the Budget Report?
Answer: There are several reasons why the Budget Report and financial affidavit might not be the same. Several of, these relate to timing issues.
The goal of the financial form is to reflect expenses at the current moment. But the Budget Report builds in the ability to capture future financial events.
The reasons for differences between Budget Report and financial affidavit include the following:
1. Child and spousal support. The Budget Report includes child and spousal support of the current relationship, and the financial affidavit typically does not.
2. Mortgage payments. If a mortgage is being paid off during the current year, then the Budget Report in "Monthly" view typically will not include the mortgage (this is an option). But it will be on the financial affidavit.
3. Refinancing. If a mortgage is going to be refinanced, the financial affidavit may show the current mortgage, but the Budget Report will show the refinanced mortgage.
4. Future mortgage. If a mortgage is being entered into later in that year, then it will be on the Budget Report, but may not be on the financial affidavit.
5. Future purchases. If real estate is being purchased later in that year, it will not be included in the financial affidavit, which is reflecting the current moment. But it will be on the Budget Report.
6. IRA/401(k) contributions. Contributions to IRA or 401(k) plans may be reflected on the Budget Report (this is an option), but typically they are not reflected on the financial affidavit.
7. Taxes. Federal and state income taxes may not be included on the financial affidavit, but they are on the Budget Report. (On the Budget Report options, accessible from the top of the Budget Report screen, you may omit taxes from the report.)