0 Exemptions withholding entire paycheck?

General
1

Hi there,

First, I am not sure I am posting this question in the right place. If I’m not, would someone kindly suggest where to post it? Thanks in advance.

I am so confused. I started a new part-time job and was scheduled to get my first paycheck on 11/15. Nothing was deposited then, so I went into the job’s website where I filled everything out (including tax information) to see what was going on, and it said “gross pay: $201.25, net pay: $0.00”. Looking further, my gross pay went entirely to withholdings (federal, medicare and OASDI), split between those for the exact amount of my check, down to the penny.

I asked H&R about this, and they were overall very unhelpful. They suggested changing my exemptions and seeing what happened. I have worked several jobs and have ALWAYS claimed 0, yet I have never had my ENTIRE check go to withholdings (even when I worked jobs with lower pay!). But whatever, I went in and changed it to 1 like she suggested, and she said now my net pay for the next check is showing $180. She also said to ask my accountant, which I don’t have and don’t feel like I need to get for this one issue.

I am not looking for professional tax advice, I just feel like there is something wrong here. Am I crazy? Am I not thinking to look for something particular?

2

Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

3

Denver said:
Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

These were my first two thoughts, as well.

4

Denver said:
Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

Yeah if you work in a state where the tipped minimum wage is $2.13/hour your paychecks will be $0 and you will likely owe thousands in taxes at the end of the year since $2.13/hour doesn’t cover taxes on tips.

5

Denver said:
Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

No, I didn’t add any amount in extra withholding and I am not a tipped worker

6

Reagan said:

Denver said:
Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

No, I didn’t add any amount in extra withholding and I am not a tipped worker

Did they give you a copy of your paystub? Something is odd here, and the paystub might have clues.

7

@Denver
It’s all online, so I think I can look at it there, but no physical paystub

8

Reagan said:
@Denver
It’s all online, so I think I can look at it there, but no physical paystub

Although I’ll say, they use Workday (not sure if this is a common site? It’s new to me) and it is far from user friendly, so nothing looks clear to me

9

Denver said:
Did you add any amount in the extra withholding section?

Are you a tipped worker?

This question is key. If taxes on tipped earnings & hourly earnings exceeded net wages. In my company we have to advance the negative amount to get back to zero 0.00, and get it at a later date.

10

Maybe they have a garnishment order or something is wrong. It’s impossible for one’s pay to entirely go towards paying income & FICA taxes otherwise, what would be the point of one working.

11

Sully said:
Maybe they have a garnishment order or something is wrong. It’s impossible for one’s pay to entirely go towards paying income & FICA taxes otherwise, what would be the point of one working.

Yes exactly! In one of the response emails the person from HR said “If you are wanting to net some of your gross income…” and I was like… what??? Who would not want to net some of their gross income??? Thank you, your comment makes me feel less crazy haha

12

Sully said:
Maybe they have a garnishment order or something is wrong. It’s impossible for one’s pay to entirely go towards paying income & FICA taxes otherwise, what would be the point of one working.

Also, I’m assuming the person from HR would know if they had a garnishment order, right? It’s a thriving community college, which makes me feel like this is less likely, but I really don’t know

13

@Reagan
Yes, HR would know because they are the ones to execute the order. Something just doesn’t make sense. Look at your paystub and check out the deductions. And no, you’re not crazy. It does not make sense. Take a look at your paystub.

14

@Sully
Thank you so much. Their website is so confusing (Workday), I honestly don’t even see what appears to be a normal paystub, just pay information in different tabs. But, from what I can find, anywhere it says “deductions” of any kind, or “exemptions”, it lists 0 (except for the one place she had me recently change “personal exemptions” to 1, which I don’t like). Is there anything else I should be looking for?