[c0ld3st]

I'm working a summer job (my first) at which I expect I will make a maximum of 2500 dollars before I start a semester at college. They have withheld a total of 87.55 dollars from my paychecks so far (Fed, State, Medicare, and SS). I read that you have to make at least 9k to pay federal minimum wage and I read on another question asked on this site that you must make 5k in my state of Georgia to owe income tax.

Do I need to withhold anything from my paychecks at all?

I know I need to set my federal allowances to 3 so they stop withholding pay for federal taxes. I should be able to get a 40 dollar refund X)

But I am not clear on what I should set my state allowance number to. Advice would be much appreciated.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

If you can convince your employer to STOP all state and federal income tax withholding and refund what has already been withheld, then do that. If you will earned ONLY $2,500 in this job, then you would have NO LEGAL OBLIGATION to even file either a federal or Georgia state income tax return.

However, that MAY be a tough sell. The IRS is very particular with its requirements that the employer withhold enough money to cover your tax liability, and they DO fine employers who repeatedly fail to do so, which is why your employer MAY be reluctant to accommodate you.

Further, your parents MAY be able to claim you on their tax return, which means ONLY the standard deduction is available to you. It is STILL enough to cover your projected wage of $2,500, but if you get another job while at school, it becomes problematic.

Ask your employer to stop the withholding and refund what has already been withheld. The WORST that can happen is that he says NO!