Has anyone used the actual Publication 15-T to verify this? I downloaded it and tried to follow along but the tables are confusing af. There's like 10 different methods depending on if your W-4 is old or new and what payroll system your employer uses.

I had the exact same issue with my semi-monthly paycheck calculations! What finally helped me was realizing that the IRS withholding system uses different formulas than just applying tax brackets directly to your income. The key thing you're missing is that withholding tables already account for the standard deduction and use annualized calculations that are then divided by your pay frequency. Your employer isn't just taking your pay period income and applying tax brackets - they're estimating what your annual tax liability will be and spreading it across all pay periods. Also, since you mentioned having an old W-4 with allowances, your employer is using a conversion method that doesn't work the way you calculated. Each allowance doesn't simply reduce your taxable income by a fixed dollar amount per pay period like it used to. I'd recommend either using the IRS Withholding Estimator online or filling out a new W-4 form. The new system is actually much more straightforward and gives you better control over your withholding amounts. You can even specify exact additional dollar amounts to be withheld if you want to fine-tune it.

One more thing that tripped me up with the Saver's Credit - make sure you're using Form 8880 to claim it. The credit won't automatically calculate even if you enter all your retirement contributions correctly.

Dylan, you're absolutely right that you should qualify! Since you were never enrolled full-time by your school's definition (12+ credits), the IRS won't consider you a full-time student either. The key is that "full-time" status is determined by your educational institution's standards, not a universal number. Just a heads up though - double-check that you weren't claimed as a dependent on anyone else's tax return (like your parents'), as that would disqualify you regardless of your student status. Also make sure your $3,800 contribution was made by the tax filing deadline to count for that tax year. With your $32k AGI, you'll get a 10% credit rate, so you could be looking at up to $200 back (10% of $2,000 max eligible contribution). Don't forget Form 8880 like Paolo mentioned!

A bit confused after reading all of these comments. So if I sold some furniture on Facebook Marketplace for like $800 total last year (stuff I just wanted out of my house, sold for less than I paid), I don't need to report anything because 1) it's under the $20k threshold for getting a 1099-K and 2) I didn't make a profit anyway?

Just to clarify something that might help others reading this - the key distinction everyone's touching on is between *reporting requirements* and *tax obligations*. The 1099-K threshold only determines whether platforms like StubHub have to send you (and the IRS) a form. It doesn't change your underlying obligation to report taxable income. For your specific situation with the concert tickets, if you sold them for less than you paid (which sounds like the case), you actually had a loss, not income. Personal losses like this aren't deductible, but they're also not taxable income you need to report. The bottom line: No 1099-K required under current thresholds, and no taxable income since you sold at a loss. You should be good to file your return. Just keep your records showing what you originally paid vs. what you sold them for in case you ever need to demonstrate there was no profit.

Don't forget about state taxes too! You mentioned 4 different taxes - sounds like you're seeing Federal, State, FICA-EE (Social Security), and Med-EE (Medicare). The first two (Federal and State) you can potentially adjust through withholding forms. The FICA (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are fixed percentages that everyone pays on earned income.

I went through this exact same confusion when I started my first "real" job! The tax codes on paystubs are like a foreign language at first. One thing that really helped me was tracking my YTD numbers over a few pay periods - it shows you exactly how much you're paying in taxes annually. At $18/hour, if you're seeing $50 in federal withholding on a bi-weekly check, that projects to about $1,300/year in federal taxes, which does seem high for your income level. Here's what I'd recommend: First, definitely use that IRS Tax Withholding Estimator that was mentioned - it's free and official. Second, when you talk to HR about a new W-4, ask them to show you exactly how they calculate your withholding based on what you filled out. Sometimes there are simple mistakes like accidentally claiming married filing separately instead of single. Also, once you hit your 90-day mark and become eligible for benefits, definitely look into contributing to a 401k if they offer one. Even putting in just $50-100 per paycheck reduces your taxable income and can lower both your federal and state withholding. Plus you're building retirement savings! The FICA and Medicare taxes unfortunately are what they are - everyone pays the same 7.65% combined rate regardless of income level. But getting your federal and state withholding dialed in correctly can make a big difference in your take-home pay.

One important thing no one mentioned - once you get your ITIN, you should also fill out a W-8BEN form to give to TikTok. This establishes your status as a foreign person and may reduce the withholding tax rate depending on tax treaties between the US and Australia. Without a W-8BEN, TikTok will likely withhold 30% of your earnings for US taxes. With the form (and depending on the Australia-US tax treaty), you might qualify for a lower rate like 10-15%.

As someone who went through this exact process for my YouTube channel earnings, I can confirm that getting an ITIN as a non-US creator is definitely doable but requires patience and attention to detail. A few additional tips based on my experience: 1. **Start early** - The 7-11 week processing time is real, and it can be longer during peak tax season (January-April). Since you're already accepted into TikTok's program, apply ASAP. 2. **Document everything** - Keep copies of everything you submit. I had to follow up on my application status and having reference numbers and copies made that much easier. 3. **Double-check your W-7** - Small mistakes can cause rejections and months of delays. Pay special attention to the reason codes and make sure your supporting documents exactly match what's required for your situation. 4. **Consider the tax implications** - Once you have your ITIN and start earning, you'll likely need to file annual US tax returns (Form 1040NR) to claim any treaty benefits or refunds from overwithholding. The good news is that once you have your ITIN, it's valid indefinitely as long as you use it on a tax return at least once every three years. So this is a one-time hassle that will serve you for your entire creator career!