Non-resident aliens on OPT are permitted to work as independent contractors, because the tax imposed on your contract income is the same as would be imposed under Form W-2. This is because you are EXEMPT from paying FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes.
However, since you are working on OPT, you SHOULD have been issued a SSN by the Social Security Administration. Talk to your employer about this.
You need to put aside about one-quarter of each paycheck so you have sufficient funds to pay the federal and state income taxes when they are due in April 2011.
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