Ask Me Help Desk - W9 for an OPT?

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!

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertsonsd

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?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

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?

Also note, company ABC is NOT my current employer!

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertsonsd

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.)