Hi. I notice during the spring semester of 2006, FICA was being extracted out of my paycheck. At the time, I was a half-time, degree-seeking student at FSU. Is it possible to get this money back from my employer somehow because of the exemption rule? If so, how would I got about doing that?

Ask the employer to refund the FICA taxes. If they refuse (probable), get the refusal in writing. You can then request a refund from the IRS using Form 843.

Are you a foreign student under a F-1 visa?

Hi, thanks for replying. I am not a foreign student. I was working as a mentor at FSU at the time. I will ask them for a refund first.

Okay, you would still need to request the refund and, if refused, attach the written refusal. You will have to explain your justification for the refund on Form 843.

Thanks. I am wondering something about FICA. Does it factor in to my return that I get? You think I should wait to see if they refund me before doing my tax return?

In my experience, the only time you get a refund of FICA taxes is when you exceed the Social Security tax cap (which is $94,000 of earned income in 2006).

If you want to wait, fine, but I do not expect it will have any effect on your tax return.

Yeah, that's what I figured. It's weird though, I compared Turbotax and Taxact. One says I get $440, one says I get $135. Same info in both.

Is it possible to figure out the boxes on your W2 from your last paycheck? If so, do you know some of them from mine (no revealing info is shown)?:

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~mbp02/taxes.jpg

Your total annual salary is $8,590.

Assuming you are single, the combination of your personal exemption ($3,300) and standard deduction ($5,150) will leave ONLY $140 as taxable income. Your total tax is $14.

Did you accurately input your age for both TaxAct and TurboTax? Income at that level would kick in the Earned Income Txa, but NOT if you are under the age of 26 on 31 December 2006.

Yes, it was that EIC thing. But, these programs are telling me I had to be at least 25 at the end of 2006. I am 25 now. You're saying I have to be 26 though?

If the program says 25 by the end of 2006, go with that. I sometimes confuse the age cutoff.

Actually, some places online seem to agree with yours. But, when I looked back at TaxAct, it just automatically said I get the EIC. So, I'll just go with it. Will it hurt me if it's somehow not true?

Not really. Your age will be checked automatically by the IRS computer against the SSA records. If you are not old enough for the EIC, the tax refund will be adjusted accordingly.

Cool. Thanks for all the info. I'll let you know if my school doesn't do that FICA refund.