Why Minors See Taxes Withheld
Many first-time teen workers are surprised to find that their paycheck is smaller than expected. Employers are required to withhold certain taxes based on federal, state, and local rules, plus the information the worker provides on Form W-4. Even if you are under 18, some taxes—especially Social Security and Medicare—often still apply. The goal is to prepay the taxes you’ll owe for the year so you are not stuck with a large bill later.
If you want to see how each deduction turns gross pay into take-home pay, review a clear example layout in our Regular Pay Stub guide. You can also create a quick sample to understand your own numbers using our Pay Stub Generator.
Federal Income Tax vs. FICA: The Big Picture
Your paycheck typically reflects two major federal categories:
- Federal income tax withholding — based on your W-4 entries, pay frequency, and earnings to date. Some minors will have little or even no federal income tax withheld if they expect low annual income, but this is not automatic—you must complete the W-4 correctly.
- FICA taxes — Social Security and Medicare. These usually apply regardless of age when you’re working as an employee. A few narrow exceptions exist (for example, certain work for a parent’s sole proprietorship or eligible student employment with a school). When in doubt, check your pay stub’s “Taxes” section to confirm what was withheld.
To visualize these lines clearly, see the common fields on a Regular Pay Stub, or generate a sample pay stub with your typical hours and pay rate.
How the W-4 Affects a Minor’s Withholding
When you start a job, you complete Form W-4. This form tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each check. As a minor (or dependent), you should pay attention to the sections that ask whether you can be claimed as a dependent, whether you have multiple jobs, and if you expect low annual income. Filling these parts accurately can reduce unnecessary withholding—especially if you are working part-time or seasonally.
- Low or zero federal income tax — If your expected annual income is below applicable thresholds, your W-4 entries may result in little or no federal income tax withheld. This does not remove FICA; it only affects the federal income tax line.
- Multiple jobs — Teens often work summer plus weekend jobs. If you have more than one job, follow the W-4 instructions carefully so withholding reflects total combined income.
- Update when things change — Hours increase, pay rate changes, or starting a second job are all reasons to submit an updated W-4. Keeping it current helps keep your paycheck accurate.
After you submit your W-4, compare your next pay stub to your expectations. If the numbers look off, request a new W-4 and recheck a sample using the Pay Stub Generator.
FICA (Social Security & Medicare): Why It’s Usually Still There
FICA is separate from federal income tax. Social Security and Medicare fund specific programs, and the rules generally do not exempt employees just because they are minors. Most teen employees will see these lines on every check. Limited exceptions exist (for example, certain cases of working directly for a parent’s sole proprietorship or qualifying student employment with a school), but unless your employer confirms an exception applies, assume FICA will be withheld.
To understand how FICA affects take-home pay, review how gross pay turns into net pay in our Regular Pay Stub guide, or plug in your hours and pay rate to generate a sample stub and see the before-and-after comparison.
State and Local Taxes: Why Your Location Matters
Beyond federal rules, states and some cities or counties impose their own income taxes and withholding methods. Two teens earning the same amount in different states may have different state or local tax lines. Your employer follows your work location’s rules, so your pay stub may show state income tax and, in some areas, local taxes. Always review your pay stub to see exactly which jurisdictions are withholding tax and how much.
Need a clean way to track these differences? Build a reference copy for each job using our Pay Stub Generator so you can store and compare deductions over time.
Illustrative Example: From Gross Pay to Take-Home
Consider a simple example for a part-time teen employee earning hourly wages. Suppose your gross pay for the period is $500. Your pay stub might show lines similar to:
- Gross Pay: $500
- FICA—Social Security: withheld based on the applicable rate
- FICA—Medicare: withheld based on the applicable rate
- Federal Income Tax: may be small or zero depending on your W-4 and yearly earnings
- State/Local Income Tax: depends on your location
- Other deductions: only if applicable (e.g., cafeteria plan, union dues)
- Net Pay: your take-home amount after all deductions
Because each teen’s W-4, state, and hours differ, your numbers will too. To get a personalized preview, enter your hours, rate, and pay period into the Pay Stub Generator and compare results with your real stub.
Reading a Minor’s Pay Stub: What to Check Every Period
- Pay period dates — confirm the start and end dates match the hours you worked.
- Hours and rate — verify regular vs. overtime hours and the correct hourly rate or salary.
- Deductions — confirm each tax line (federal, state, local, Social Security, Medicare) and any other deductions are reasonable.
- Year-to-date (YTD) — track cumulative earnings and taxes withheld; this helps forecast whether your year-end tax will be owed or refunded.
For a quick walkthrough of each line item, open the Regular Pay Stub guide and compare it to your latest paycheck.
Common Situations for Teen Workers
- Seasonal or summer work — If your total annual income will be modest, your W-4 may lead to little or no federal income tax withholding. FICA may still apply.
- Multiple part-time jobs — Make sure your W-4 reflects combined income to avoid under- or over-withholding.
- Family business — Ask your parent or guardian (and the employer) whether any special rules apply. Do not assume FICA is waived—confirm first.
- Student jobs — If you work for a qualifying school employer while enrolled, ask whether special student withholding rules apply and how they appear on the stub.
Whenever your situation changes, generate a quick “what-if” using the Pay Stub Generator before your next pay period so you know what to expect.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving the W-4 blank or guessing — This can cause excessive withholding or a surprise tax bill. Complete it carefully and update it after changes.
- Ignoring the pay stub — Small errors early can grow across a season. Compare gross, tax lines, and net pay every period.
- Assuming minors never pay taxes — FICA often still applies, and some states withhold income tax even when federal withholding is small.
- Not keeping records — Save pay stubs for proof of income and for tax preparation. If you need a clean copy, recreate one via the Pay Stub Generator.
Best Practices for Teens and Parents
- Complete and review the W-4 together — Make sure entries reflect the teen’s real situation (dependent status, multiple jobs, estimated income).
- Set a paycheck review routine — Match hours, rate, and taxes each pay period. Use our Regular Pay Stub guide as a checklist.
- Forecast net pay — Before extra shifts or a raise, model the impact in the Pay Stub Generator so take-home pay isn’t a surprise.
- Save stubs and plan ahead — Keep digital copies for applications (e.g., rentals, loans) and tax filing time.
Quick Q&A for Minors
- Can a minor be exempt from federal income tax withholding? Sometimes—if you meet the criteria on the W-4 and expect low or no tax for the year. That exemption does not generally remove FICA.
- Do all states withhold income tax? No. Some do not impose state income tax, while others do. Your pay stub shows what applies to you.
- How can I confirm the math? Compare your pay stub’s lines with a sample you create in the Pay Stub Generator for a side-by-side view.
Conclusion
For most teen employees, FICA appears on every paycheck, while federal income tax withholding depends on W-4 entries and total yearly income. State and local rules vary, but your pay stub reveals exactly what was withheld and why. Build the habit of checking each line—gross, taxes, and net—so your money matches your expectations. If you need a clean, professional view of deductions and take-home pay, generate a sample pay stub now, and for a field-by-field walkthrough, open the Regular Pay Stub guide.
