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robertsonsd
Aug 22, 2012, 06:36 PM
I am a resident from New Zealand who graduated in the USA (4 year degree) and has a job which I started 3 months ago in a field linked to my area of study (Finance).
A website that we use which provides financial information to us gives out gift cards if you correctly identify errors. I have just surpassed $600 and they have requested that I fill out a W9. I called the USCIS and they said that if I filled out the W9 it would not affect my OPT or green card application (for when I apply next year). However, I am always skeptical of hearing it from a person who answers the phone so I was hoping you may have some answers for me? What should I do, and if a W9 is correct, how do I fill it out (it is very confusing)?

Last thing, I have changed my address since I filed for my EAD and OPT, how do I change the address without having to go to the DMV or anything annoying like that?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!

JudyKayTee
Aug 22, 2012, 06:50 PM
I am a resident from New Zealand who graduated in the USA (4 year degree) and has a job which I started 3 months ago in a field linked to my area of study (Finance).
A website that we use which provides financial information to us gives out gift cards if you correctly identify errors. I have just surpassed $600 and they have requested that I fill out a W9. I called the USCIS and they said that if I filled out the W9 it would not affect my OPT or green card application (for when I apply next year). However, I am always skeptical of hearing it from a person who answers the phone so I was hoping you may have some answers for me? What should I do, and if a W9 is correct, how do I fill it out (it is very confusing)?

Last thing, I have changed my address since I filed for my EAD and OPT, how do I change the address without having to go to the DMV or anything annoying like that?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!



A W9 is a form which requests the tax ID or SS number of the person receiving payments as independent contractors. I'm an independent contractors. I fill out a W9 for every person I contract with.

It's a W2 but for an independent contractor - you did fill out a W2, right? It's the only way IRS can know what your income is.

I'm sorry you feel that going to the DMV is annoying - if you have a Driver's License, that needs to be changed. The procedure varies by State. In some States you can make the change on line.

Have you notified Immigration of the change?

robertsonsd
Aug 22, 2012, 06:56 PM
A W9 is a form which requests the tax ID or SS number of the person receiving payments as independent contractors. I'm an independent contractors. I fill out a W9 for each and every person I contract with.

It's a W2 but for an independent contractor - you did fill out a W2, right? It's the only way IRS can know what your income is.

I'm sorry you feel that going to the DMV is annoying - if you have a Driver's License, that needs to be changed. The procedure varies by State. In some States you can make the change on line.

Have you notified Immigration of the change?

I am not sure if I have filled out a W2. I have my EAD card and did all the necessary paperwork to begin my work for this year, but I have no dealt with taxes or anything yet because I only started making money this year (I did not work through college).

Why did the second company (call them ABC) send me a W9 to complete before they pay me more than $600 in gift cards? Should it be a different form instead? Am I considered a resident alien if I have an OPT and EAD card?

What form should I fill out, and how should I fill it out? Do I need to tell company ABC to send me a different form to fill out?

robertsonsd
Aug 22, 2012, 06:56 PM
Also note, company ABC is NOT my current employer!

JudyKayTee
Aug 23, 2012, 05:48 AM
Also note, company ABC is NOT my current employer!


Question - do you receive a salary (with taxes withheld) OR are you more of a subcontractor (without taxes withheld). That's "it" in a nutshell.

All of your income is taxable. Some is as an employee (taxes withheld) and some as a subcontractor (no taxes withheld).

Once I learn that I can answer the rest.

(I've always wanted to go to New Zealand. We should work out an exchange program - I go there and you come here. Oh, wait, you're already here.)