What Taxes Do Work & Travel Participants Pay?
Tax responsibilities for Work & Travel participants.
All InterExchange participants are required to pay federal, state, and local taxes and must file tax returns. Participants are considered non-resident aliens for tax purposes while on a J-1 Visa.
Participants Are Exempt From:
- Medicare (FICA)
- Social Security (SS)
- Federal Unemployment Taxes (FUTA)
Important: If these taxes are mistakenly withheld, employers must issue a refund to the participant.
Consult a tax professional to determine whether J-1 participants are exempt from state unemployment taxes.
For more details on:
- The W-4 Form
- IRS guidelines for J-1 participants
- State-specific tax requirements