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View Full Version : Social Security and Medicare withholding for OPT worker (been in US 5 yrs)


scjoshi
Oct 7, 2011, 08:41 PM
Hi,

Please help me out. I graduated in May 2011 and had been working part time on campus till that time. I got a full time job in July 2011 and I requested my employer to not withhold social security, medicare, etc. Since I'm on F1-visa. However I just learnt about the "5 year exemption" rule. My 5 years in the US on F1 visa ended July 2011. So my employer should have withheld FICA taxes starting August 2011, but has not due to my request. I will be asking my employer to withhold FICA taxes starting Nov 2011.

Following are my questions:
1) Will I have to pay FICA taxes for the months starting August 2011, when I fill out my tax return forms? If so, what is your estimated amount that I will have to pay?

2) I heard that employer pays a partial amount of FICA taxes. Will I have to pay the full amount of FICA taxes for the months of Aug-Oct 2011 since they weren't withheld by my employer?

3) What is the total estimated refund I can expect ?

Thank you so much for your help.

Income details:
Jan 2011 - May 2011: $2000
Jul 2011 - Dec 2011: $30000 (estimate)

Fed Tax withheld:
Jan 2011 - May 2011: $65
Jul 2011 - Dec 2011: $4600 (estimate)

Arizona State Tax withheld:
Jan 2011 - May 2011: $55
Jul 2011 - Dec 2011: $650

AtlantaTaxExpert
Oct 11, 2011, 03:20 PM
Please provide the exact date you arrived in the U.S. and your visa status at that time.