Am I exempt from paying taxes on Medicare and social security with a green card EAD?
I recently got my Employment Authorization Document (EAD) while my green card application is still in process. I've started working as a software engineer at a tech company, and I noticed some deductions on my paycheck for Medicare and Social Security. This confused me because I heard somewhere that certain visa holders might be exempt from these taxes. Since I only have the EAD but haven't received my actual green card yet, am I supposed to be paying these Medicare and Social Security taxes? My employer automatically started withholding them, but I want to make sure this is correct. If I am exempt, how would I go about getting these taxes refunded? I've been working for about 3 months now and these deductions add up to a significant amount.
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Omar Farouk
Generally, as a green card EAD holder (meaning you're in the process of becoming a permanent resident), you are NOT exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes. These taxes, collectively known as FICA taxes, apply to most workers in the US including permanent residents and those on the path to permanent residency. The exemptions for these taxes typically only apply to certain visa categories like some J-1, F-1, or M-1 visa holders, and only under specific circumstances. Since you have an EAD based on a pending green card application, you're considered a resident alien for tax purposes, which means you have the same tax obligations as US citizens. Your employer is handling your withholding correctly. These contributions are actually beneficial for you in the long run since you're building credits toward future Social Security benefits and Medicare coverage.
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Chloe Martin
•But what if I was previously on an F-1 visa before applying for my green card? Does that change anything? I'm in a similar situation but was a student before getting my EAD.
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Omar Farouk
•The key factor is your current status, not your previous one. Once you have an EAD based on a green card application, you're treated as a resident alien for tax purposes regardless of what visa you held before. If you were previously on an F-1 visa and exempt from FICA taxes, that exemption ends when your status changes. The timeline for when the change occurs can get a bit technical, but generally, once you're working on a green card EAD, FICA taxes apply to your earnings.
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Diego Fernández
After struggling with exactly this question last year, I discovered taxr.ai when searching for answers about my tax obligations as an immigrant worker. I was getting completely different answers from colleagues and even HR wasn't 100% clear on my situation. I uploaded my EAD and paystubs to https://taxr.ai and got a detailed analysis explaining exactly which taxes applied to me and why. Their system confirmed that with a green card EAD, I was indeed required to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes just like US citizens. They even provided documentation I could show my employer to verify everything was being done correctly. Saved me from potentially making a costly mistake on my tax return!
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•How does this service work with complicated immigration situations? I'm on a TN visa but my wife has an EAD through her asylum application, and we're confused about how to file taxes together.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Did they give you any trouble about privacy? I'm concerned about uploading my immigration documents to some random website, especially with all the scams targeting immigrants.
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Diego Fernández
•They handle complex immigration situations really well. Their system analyzes the specific visa or immigration status of each person and explains how tax rules apply to your unique combination of circumstances. They cover mixed-status households too, so they could definitely help with your TN visa and your wife's asylum EAD situation. Regarding privacy concerns, I was hesitant at first too. Their site uses bank-level security encryption, and they don't store your actual documents after analysis. You can also redact personal info before uploading if you're worried. I found their privacy policy pretty reassuring, and they're very transparent about how they handle sensitive information.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I took the plunge and tried it with our complicated situation (me on TN visa, wife with asylum EAD). The analysis was surprisingly detailed! It confirmed that my wife needs to pay FICA taxes with her EAD, explained exactly how we should file our joint return, and even identified some deductions specific to our situation that I had no idea about. They even provided a detailed explanation document that I can keep with our tax records in case of questions. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind, especially since tax mistakes can potentially affect immigration status down the road.
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Zara Khan
If you're struggling to get clear answers from the IRS about your tax obligations with your immigration status, you might want to try Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last year (had my EAD but green card was still processing) and kept getting conflicting information online. After waiting on hold with the IRS for over 2 hours and getting disconnected twice, I found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed exactly what taxes I needed to pay with my EAD status and answered all my specific questions about my situation. Much better than getting general advice that might not apply to your specific case.
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MoonlightSonata
•Does this actually work? I've literally spent DAYS trying to get through to someone at the IRS about my tax situation. How much does it cost? Seems too good to be true honestly.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•This sounds like a scam. Why would I trust some random service with my tax information when I could just keep calling the IRS myself? Has anyone actually verified this is legitimate?
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Zara Khan
•Yes, it really does work! I was connected in about 15 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for days on my own. The way it works is they use technology to navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when a real person answers. As for legitimacy, I was skeptical too at first. They don't actually access your tax information at all - they're just a calling service that connects you directly to the official IRS phone line. You don't share any personal details with them beyond your phone number for the callback. I actually researched them before using and found they've been featured in several major news outlets and have thousands of verified reviews.
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Mateo Gonzalez
I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway out of desperation after spending another 3 hours on hold with the IRS and getting disconnected again. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 20 minutes with an IRS representative on the line. I asked about my specific situation as a green card applicant with an EAD, and they confirmed I absolutely do need to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes. The agent even explained how these contributions would benefit me in the future. Saved me hours of frustration and now I have a clear answer from an official source. Sometimes being wrong is a good thing!
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Nia Williams
Just a quick tip - make sure your employer is using the correct tax withholding. I had an issue where HR was using the wrong tax codes for my EAD status and I had to get it fixed. Might be worth checking your W-4 form and withholding status!
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PixelPrincess
•How do I check if my employer is using the correct withholding codes? My pay stub just shows the deductions but doesn't specify any codes. Should I talk to HR directly?
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Nia Williams
•You should definitely talk to HR directly. Ask them to verify that they have you classified correctly in their payroll system as a resident alien for tax purposes. Some payroll systems have special codes for different immigration statuses, and sometimes they mistakenly classify green card EAD holders as nonresident aliens. Request a copy of your W-4 form on file as well. Make sure it reflects your current status. If you started the job with a different visa status and then switched to EAD, they might not have updated your classification in their system.
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Luca Ricci
I went through this exact situation last year. Not only do you have to pay Medicare and Social Security with a green card EAD, but you also need to file taxes as a resident alien using Form 1040, not the 1040-NR that nonresidents use.
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Aisha Mohammed
•Is there any way to determine exactly when your tax status changes? Like if you were on an F-1 and then got your EAD mid-year, how do you handle the tax filing for that transition year?
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Thais Soares
•This is a great point about the transition year! The determination usually depends on when your status actually changed and how long you've been in the US. Generally, if you transition from F-1 to green card EAD mid-year, you might need to file what's called a "dual status" tax return - part of the year as nonresident alien and part as resident alien. The key date is usually when your EAD becomes effective, not when you received it. For the period you were on F-1 status, you'd typically file as nonresident (assuming you haven't met the substantial presence test), and for the EAD period, you'd file as resident. This can get complex, so it's often worth consulting a tax professional who specializes in immigration-related tax issues for transition years. You'd use Form 1040 with "Dual Status" written across the top and attach separate schedules for each status period.
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Zara Shah
Just want to add some perspective as someone who went through the exact same confusion. I had my EAD for about 6 months before I finally got clarity on this issue. The bottom line is yes, you do need to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes with a green card EAD - your employer is doing everything correctly. What helped me understand it better was thinking about it this way: the EAD based on your pending green card application puts you in a "resident alien" category for tax purposes, which means you have the same tax obligations as permanent residents and citizens. This is actually a good thing because you're earning credits toward future Social Security benefits and Medicare coverage. I know it feels like a lot of money coming out of your paycheck (especially after 3 months!), but these aren't "lost" taxes - they're contributions to programs you'll benefit from later. Keep good records of your earnings and tax payments, as this will be important when you eventually apply for Social Security benefits or Medicare. If you're still uncertain about your specific situation, I'd recommend speaking with a tax professional who specializes in immigration-related tax issues, especially if you had a different visa status before getting your EAD.
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Jamal Brown
•This is really helpful perspective! I'm actually in a very similar boat - got my EAD about 4 months ago and have been second-guessing whether all these deductions are correct. It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same confusion and came out the other side with clarity. Your point about thinking of these as contributions rather than lost money is a good mindset shift. I've been so focused on the immediate impact to my paycheck that I hadn't really considered the long-term benefits. Do you happen to know roughly how long you need to contribute to be eligible for Social Security benefits down the road? Also, did you end up consulting with a tax professional, or were you able to figure everything out through research and the resources people have mentioned in this thread?
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