Hi,
My question has 2 parts -
I was on OPT Since May 06. My Social Security and Medicare teaxes were withheld by my school - I filed the 843 and related documents and got a refund for last year (until Dec06). My school hired me full time and on May 12th I went to India and got my H-1 stamped. I returned on June 12th. My social security and medicare taxes were deducted until May.

1) When did my H-1 actually start? May 12th or June 12th?

2) I was told by an accountant that starting next year for tax purposes I will be considered a resident (being that I will be on my H-1 for more than 6 months). So the IRS would not give me a refund on my SS and medicare and that I had to claim that from my employer. My finance office says that being that I will be considered a resident I do not get a refund on that and also added that if I didn't pay those taxes from Jan to May I would have to pay that out of my pocket when I file my taxes next year. Is this true? I checked the IRS website to see if this clause was somewhere - but no luck :(

Please help.

Priya

1) It starts the day it is APPROVED.

2) You may need to file as a dual-status alien in 2007, which means you CAN get a refund for the period in which you were still on a F-1 visa.

Send me an email and I will give you more speciifc advice.