J-1 Visa and Tax
 

I just started working in the States a few weeks ago. I am here on a J-1 visa from Ireland. I was under the impression that people on J-1s do not pay taxes. I got my first pay check today and discovered that a quarter of my earnings had disappeared! :eek:
My question is, can I get them to stop withholding taxes, and if so, how do I go about doing this.
Otherwise I presume that I have to claim the tax back at a later date. Again, how do I do this?

Also, bear in mind that I am completely new to the American tax system, so you can safely assume that I know nothing!

Cheers,
CSflim.

I'm currently working on an F1 visa (in a few months I will move to an H-1B). For what it's worth, I pay federal, state and local taxes; but I don't pay social security and medicare. I'll start paying those two on the H-1B visa.

When I got my first paycheck, the company had deducted the social security and medicare. I went to the payroll department and talked with them, and they returned the amount a few days later (and haven't billed me for that stuff ever since).

I'm assuming J-1 stuff should be close to F-1.. But of course you never know :)

Good luck!

ktspktsp