I have read conflicting answers to the question of whether someone is exempt from paying social security and medicare taxes on an OPT (F-1) visa.

So, my question is are you exempt? To make it very clear, are people working under OPT exempt from paying these taxes (particularly if you have been in the U.S. for less than five years)?

I have not seen anything in the IRS website (in Publication 519) that clearly addresses this answer. Maybe I overlooked it. I read that "students" are exempt from these taxes, but does this exemption also include students who are under OPT? Are people with OPT still considered non-residents?

I hope to get a clear answer to this question. Thanks!

Look at pages 46-51 of IRS Pub 519.

Most F-1 students ARE exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes if they are working in jobs that are related to their field of study, especially if they are working under a CPT or OPT.