<p>So I'm presently employed as a work-study assistant and noticed that my earnings have been getting taxed. This never happened in my previous work-study job so this was an unpleasant surprise. I know it says on the work-study website that work-study earnings are subject to taxes but I never had to experience that until now.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if I've been getting taxed because I'm not enrolled in any summer classes or if it's just particular departments on campus that tax.</p>
<p>A friend of mine hasn't had to pay taxes on her work-study paychecks either and still doesn't have to despite it being the summer but then again, she is taking two summer classes.</p>
<p>I just wanted to see what other people's experiences were like and if anyone could offer insight into this, thanks.</p>
<p>I’d like some insight too, because if I remember correctly, the work-study said that the money allocated in Financial Aid as work-study would not be taxed and would not affect your financial aid, but money after that would</p>
<p>Work study earnings *are * taxable for federal and state tax purposes. Whether you will end up owing taxes will depend on your total earnings for the year. You do not have to pay FICA deductions on WS earnings and they are not held against you for financial aid purposes.</p>
<p>There was a misunderstanding on my part. The deductions from my paycheck weren’t taxes in the sense of what swimcatsmom is referring to. Sorry about my wording.</p>
<p>So I talked to payroll and it turns out that when you’re not a full-time enrolled student, then you have to contribute to your retirement savings and also to Social Security Medicare.</p>
<p>Once you’re enrolled again, those deductions will no longer be made.</p>
<p>I am going to be a freshman this fall and I was wondering how soon after I get to the campus should I start looking for a job.</p>
<p>Start looking a week or 2 before school actually starts. Start emailing people to set up interviews. I’m talking about work study jobs posted online.</p>
<p>Yeah, my mom has been pushing me for the last month to look for jobs to apply to, but I wasn’t sure if they’d be up or not yet. So I guess I’ll start checking and applying in the next week or so</p>
<p>yeah, i’ve been checking on workstudy.berkeley.edu and they haven’t posted that many new jobs yet. I am hoping to get something in dining like washing dishes.</p>
<p>Just to elaborate in case this is useful to others:</p>
<p>To be considered a full-time registered student and not get deductions from your work-study paycheck, you have to have paid 20% of your university fees. So even if you were enrolled in summer classes, not having paid your E-Bill would cause your earnings to be deducted from.</p>
<p>I heard that it was a relatively new policy they came up with (forcing you to contribute to retirement savings during the summer). The money goes into the UC FUND on Fidelity. Seems like forced investment or something, I’m unclear on this.</p>
<p>I don’t get it. Your current workstudy earnings are part of your financial aid award for the fall semester. they don’t offer workstudy for the summer, so why does it matter if you enroll in summer classes or not?</p>
<p>Yes, work study is available in the summer. Actually, they way Berkeley does it is that the 2009-2010 work study money is from summer 2009 to the end of spring 2010.</p>