List your pay and deductions on your most recent paystub.

ETA: Based on additional information, all amounts on your paycheck are consistent. Because you only started working in the US for ~4 months, withholding is likely overestimated. Also, if you have any itemizable deductions, you can further reduce taxable income.

[deleted]

Just added all the figures. Do you still reckon something Is missing?

Your taxes are your taxes. If you have too much being withheld, you’ll get a refund. If she’s having too little withheld, she’ll have to pay more.

Different jurisdictions have different state and local taxes as well. Places like California and NYC are known for high state and local income taxes. Places like Florida and Texas are known for no state and local income taxes at all.

Deductions for things like health insurance can differ significantly as well, depending on quality of your plan and how much of it your employer is covering.

List every tax and deduction separately!

You have over 1 grand more a month in hand and your friend is contributing $450 less a month to her 401k. That’s essentially 40-45% more (401k is pre-tax) monthly than your friend and you make 32% more than her. Seems about right but it all comes down to deductions and details.

[deleted]

Gross pay is just under $80k, so that seems correct. Since you are paid biweekly, you will have two months where you get three paychecks instead of two. If you were paid bimonthly, your paychecks would be slightly higher.

Biweekly, not twice a month. Multiply by 26. $3077 x 26 = $80K.

Meant bi-monthly, I’m sorry, my bad.

Per pay bimonthly paycheck - Gross pay - $3076.93

Pre tax deductions - 401k- $307.7 Healthcare FSA-$11.04 Medical - $52

Employee taxes - Federal - $426.97 State -$131.11 (GA) Take home - $2148.11

Could be differences in withholdings set (will get corrected come tax time), health insurance premiums, etc.

[deleted]

No, you meant biweekly, at least if you want those numbers to add up. While most months will only have two paychecks, two months will have three.

Biweekly means you get paid once every two weeks, which is 26 times a year. 52 weeks in a year divided by once every two weeks is 26 times. Your gross pay of $3077 times 26 is $80K nearly exactly.

> Per pay bimonthly paycheck - Gross pay - $3076.93

> Pre tax deductions - 401k- $307.7 Healthcare FSA-$11.04 Medical - $52

> Employee taxes - Federal - $426.97 State -$131.11 (GA) Take home - $2148.11

Are you exempt from Social Security tax and Medicare tax? If not, where are they?

Yeah I’m not liable to pay social and Medicare because of my visa status

Can you confirm your pay frequency is actually semimonthly (24 times in a calendar year) and not biweekly (26 times in a calendar year)? Because if you are paid only 24 times a year, you only actually make $73.8k and not $80k

If you’re on a visa, why you contributing to fsa or 401? Is your long term plan to stay in the us?

If my visa gets picked up in the H1B lottery, then yes. The future plan is to be in the US for at least next 7-10 years. If visa doesn’t work out, I have no option but to go back to my home country

Are you considered "nonresident alien" for the purpose of filing US federal tax return?

I’m paid twice a month, It’s been only 4 months to my hire here so I’m not sure if it’s 24 vs 26 times.

Yes, I am!

if you are only paid twice per month then you aren't getting paid 80k. I would double check with your boss on the pay frequency. Edit: what days are you paid on?

I’m paid on Friday, twice In a month

Are you on a tourist visa? 180 days?

You cannot work legally on a tourist visa. I’m on F1 OPT right now

You're paid biweekly. My calculations can confirm this based on the withholding calculations.

^1 Assuming

• Federal: Disable "standard deduction"
• Georgia personal allowance = 1

Since you are "nonresident alien", you do not have the $12,950 standard deduction (See Form 1040NR line 12). Instead, you must itemize. Therefore, payroll computer assumes your deduction is $0 instead of $12,950.

That’s bi weekly.

If you got paid twice a month, you’d get paid on the 15th and 30th, which Could be any day of the week.

If you get paid every other Friday, that’s biweekly

Ten months out of the year you’re paid twice a month. Two months, you’re paid thrice a month.

Does your friend have to pay for health insurance at their job/pay less? Some jobs pay 100%/90%

Well that’s a long process. And if doesn’t work out you will need to go back. But again, if not certain, why you contributing to 401 and fsa? If you withdraw money early you pay taxes and penalty. Fsa use it or lose it. Do you use it?

I don’t use it, and quite frankly I’m so new here I don’t even know if I can forgo it. Any suggestions are welcomed. I may reduce my 401k to $150 per pay check as opposed to $300 rn

How much time do you have left on your visa? Does your employer provide any match to your 401k?

I have 3 attempts left on my work visa (so 3 years). If selected I have 6 years on my work visa My employer matches 5%

Thanks so much. I guess it checks out that I’m paid correctly.

Sounds about right. Not sure if your impression was that US taxes were extremely low, but that's mostly a myth.

You can still contribute to your 401K while you’re on OPT or H1-B. Not sure why people are giving you grief. If you’re not selected and need to leave you can still wait till 59 or so to withdraw it or do it immediately and receive the penalty. There’s no harm to contributing to 401k even if you don’t know your long term plan.

I can’t address your original question though. I’m not an expert.