# Taxes for a summer job

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440 "2002-07-23T20:38:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![YTMezoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@YTMezoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YTMezoan)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440/1 "2002-07-23T20:38:13Z")

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I am a full-time university student who lives in New York, and have a job for the summer. I am fully supported by my parents, and will have no other independent source of income this year outside of this 2-month job, which should net me in the vicinity of $3000.  
I was told that if I wrote down “EXEMPT - 99” on a certain part of my W-4 form (as per the instructions on it), I would not have to pay federal or state taxes on this income, as my personal income is less than a certain amount. On my first paycheck, though, these deductions were taken off.  
Can someone clarify the law on this point? Thanks.

- YT

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440/2 "2002-07-23T22:02:22Z")

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Were they income tax deductions or FICA (social security)?

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**Author:** ![YTMezoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@YTMezoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YTMezoan)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440/3 "2002-07-23T23:18:30Z")

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Federal tax, state tax, social security, and something else that I forget…

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**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440/4 "2002-07-24T00:50:30Z")

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I’m not absolutely sure, but I think they changed the rules within the past few years. Looking at the instructions I have for a 2001 1040EZ, it looks like if someone else is supporting you (and therefore is claiming you) you lose your personal exemption and have only a $750 standard deduction, leaving most of that $3000 income taxable.

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**Author:** ![Winsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Winsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winsling)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-for-a-summer-job/120440/5 "2002-07-24T02:51:26Z")

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I am not an accountant, nor do I do my taxes correctly. However, I just checked the W-4 on the irs’ web site, and I quote:

> [@](#):
>
> Note: You cannot claim exemption from withholding if … (b) another person can claim you as a dependant on their tax return

In my case when I wore your shoes, I could avoid taxes by taking myself as a dependant. The catch is that my parents couldn’t, and “we” would wind up paying more in taxes.

By the way, you can find the W-4 form [here.](http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-fill/fw4_02.pdf)

Hal