Why am I being taxed 33% on my summer job paycheck as a minor?

What you're experiencing is withholding, not necessarily actual taxes you'll owe. Your employer is required to withhold money from your paycheck for various taxes based on how you filled out your W-4 form when you started the job. The good news is that if you're only making $3,300 this summer and that's all you'll earn for the year, you'll likely get most of that withholding back when you file your tax return next year. The $12,500 figure you're seeing refers to the standard deduction for 2025 - if you make less than that (and aren't claimed as a dependent on someone else's return), you typically won't owe federal income tax. Your withholding breakdown probably includes: - Federal income tax - State income tax (depends on your state) - Social Security (6.2%) - Medicare (1.45%) You should check your pay stub (paper or online) which will break down exactly where that money is going. The Social Security and Medicare taxes (about 7.65% combined) you won't get back, but you may be entitled to a refund of the income tax withholding.

I had almost the exact same situation last year! Check out https://taxr.ai - it helped me figure out why my paychecks were getting hit with so much withholding. I took a picture of my pay stub, uploaded it, and it broke down exactly what was happening with my summer job income. The system explained that my employer was withholding as if I would make that same amount all year long, which was why it seemed so high. The tool showed me how to fill out a new W-4 form to reduce the withholding since I was only working for the summer, and my next paycheck had way less taken out. Super helpful for situations like yours where the standard tax websites don't really address teen summer jobs specifically.

Alright I'm back to say I actually tried the taxr.ai thing and it was pretty legit. I uploaded my sad little paycheck and it showed me exactly where my money was going - turns out my boss had me set up as single with zero allowances which was taking way too much for federal taxes. The tool generated a new W-4 form that I gave to my manager and my next check had like $75 more in it! Still paying Social Security and Medicare but the income tax withholding went way down. Definitely not a scam like I thought.

If you've already had too much withheld and want to get it back sooner, you could try calling the IRS directly to ask about filing for a refund earlier. But good luck actually reaching a human! I spent TWO DAYS trying to get through to someone about my daughter's summer job withholding issue last year. Eventually I found https://claimyr.com which got me through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call when an agent picks up. I was skeptical but it actually worked and the agent confirmed my daughter could file a special form (Form 843) to get some of her overwithholding back before tax time.

Okay I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself because my withheld taxes were driving me crazy. The service actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back in about 35 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed that as a seasonal worker making under the standard deduction, I could submit a statement to my employer requesting they stop withholding federal income tax completely for the rest of the summer (since I'll be under the threshold). She also explained that the Social Security and Medicare taxes (7.65%) are mandatory regardless of income level. Being able to actually TALK to the IRS and get a straight answer was worth it. Definitely not a scam like I thought!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - check your pay stub carefully to see if you signed up for any benefits or deductions that might be taking money out. At my summer camp job, they automatically enrolled us in an employee meal plan that took like $50 out of each check unless you specifically opted out. Took me three paychecks to figure that out! Also some places do uniform deductions, parking fees, or even savings plans. Not saying that's what happened to you, but it's worth checking all the line items on your stub.

Make sure to double check your withholding allowances on your W-4 too! When I started my first job, I accidentally put "0" allowances which meant they withheld the maximum. Your best bet is to fill out a new W-4 and give it to your employer. Since your total income will be under the standard deduction, you can probably claim exemption from withholding for the rest of the summer.