Summer is just around the corner, which means many students will start their summer jobs for extra cash. Here are some useful tax tips every parent or student should know when starting their summer job!
1. How to complete Form W-4 when starting a New Job – This form is used by employers to determine the taxes that will be withheld from their paycheck. A student who is claimed as a dependent of another with income only from summer and part-time employment can earn as much as $6,100 (the standard deduction amount) without being liable for income tax.
2. Tips – Many students work as a waiter or camp counselor over the summer. With these jobs, the student will likely receive tips as part of their summer income. All tip income received is taxable income and is therefore subject to federal income tax. Employees are required to report tips of $20 or more received while working with any one employer in any given month. The reporting should be made in writing to the employer by the tenth day of the month following the receipt of tips.
3. Cash Jobs – Many students do odd jobs over the summer and are paid in cash. Just because the job is paid in cash does not mean that it is tax-free. Unfortunately, the income is taxable and may be subject to self-employment taxes . These earnings include income from odd jobs like babysitting and lawn mowing.
4. Self-Employment Tax – When an individual works for an employer, the employer withholds FICA (Social Security taxes) and Medicare taxes from the employee’s pay, matches the amount dollar for dollar, and remits the combined amount to the government. Self-employed workers are required to pay the combined employee and employer amounts themselves (referred to as self-employment tax) if their net earnings are $400 or more. This tax pays for their benefits under the Social Security system. Even if a worker is not liable for income tax, this 15.3% tax may apply.
5. Newspaper Carrier or Distributor – Special rules apply to services performed as a newspaper carrier or distributor. An individual is a direct seller and treated as self-employed for federal tax purposes under the following conditions:
o The person is in the business of delivering newspapers;
o All of the pay for these services directly relates to sales rather than to the number of hours worked; and
o A written contract controls the delivery services and states that the distributor will not be treated as an employee for federal tax purposes.
Newspaper Carriers or Distributors Under Age 18 – Generally, newspaper carriers or distributors under age 18 are not subject to self-employment tax.
