slimmy05:
They are not dashing you money. A colleague in Botswana gets Tax returns as well.

I no understand o.. So Wer does d 1k go

warriboy21:

I no understand o.. So Wer does d 1k go

I just dey joke oga. Na free money o

My oga them pls you guys should explain to us what is state id."bigfrances,@slimmy05

penroll55:
My oga them pls you guys should explain to us what is state id."bigfrances,@slimmy05

State ID card. Its an ID issued by states in US. You can get your state ID at the DMV office. You'll need atleast two proof of address, your I-20, I-94 and your International passport. Its just a legal form of ID rather than carry your international passport around as proof of ID. If you can drive, then save your money and get a License.

Donswampo:



alright thanks boss,one more question i intend to study built environment or building technology. please any recommendation as to which
university i should look at,with low tuition.thanks once more.

Honestly I'm not really sure. You can check out Minnesota State University to see if they offer your course. It is a cheap school and they give all international undergraduate students half tuition waiver under a program called cultural contribution something.

You could also use google as well to do your search. Take care.

slimmy05:
I just dey joke oga. Na free money o

aaah i was fear o ...if dat money reach my hand en..chai...dia fada

penroll55:
My oga them pls you guys should explain to us what is state id."bigfrances,@slimmy05

Well, after you arrive here in the US you would find out that you need a form of identification at many places you go to. As an international student, your international passport is a form of identification but you won't always carry your passport around and some places would ask for a government-issued ID, meaning an ID issued by the US government.

A drivers license or a state ID from the state you live in both suffice as form of ID for you. You can either get a state ID or drivers license. Here in Maryland, you're not allowed to have the two. If you get a state ID and later go for a drivers license you'll be asked to tender your state ID. If you first obtain a drivers license, you cannot be allowed to have a state ID later.

Basically, state ID and drivers license look the same physically, at least for here in MD, except that on the state ID there would be something written on it like, 'This is not a driver's license'.

For those still in Nigeria, as soon as you get here try to get a state ID or drivers license and for those who drive in Nigeria and intend to drive after they get here I strongly RECOMMEND that you come here with your drivers license, especially the new form being issued of recent. Or get an international one before coming. Here in MD, for example, you can exchange your Nigerian drivers license for a US one and that will skip you from having to get the learners permit you'll first get and drive with for as many as 18 months if you didn't have a license when you applied. You would still have to take the online and physical driving tests and maybe a few hours of drug abuse class depending on your state. If your drivers license is going to expire soon before you leave Nigeria, please renew it before coming here. I renewed mine shortly before I left Nigeria in 2013 and it's valid for 3 years expiring sometime by the ending of this year. I'm currently preparing to get my US drivers license very soon and having one from your country really helps to save you time.

The MVA (as it is called here in the Washington DC metro area to avoid conflicting with the usage of 'DMV' here that refers to DC itself, Maryland state and Virginia state that make up the greater Washington DC area) or DMV in your state issues this ID. And you'll need a form of identification (your international passport), proof of lawful status (such as I-20, your status which they verify with DHS here in MD), proof of residency in the state, and your original SSN card to apply. Depending on your state you may need extra documents.

LUCAS99:


Lucky you!

Does your state allow renewal by mail or you have to come in person?

I plan to go back to renew my state ID 15 days before my old state ID and Form I-20 expires and see what happens. I know I will receive a temporary ID that expires in 10 days before my State ID arrives in the mail. Since It will take about 2 weeks for my state ID to arrive in the mail I know there is no way they will issue me a State ID that will expire even before I receive it.

Yea my state allows renewal by mail though they indicated I need to be physically present for my renewal.

LUCAS99:


How come? Whenever I work overtime and make about $500+ biweekly they usually take off almost $100+ in Withholding { Federal Withholding, State Withholding, Social Security, Medicare} But if I don't work overtime and get about $400+ they normally take off just $80+.

When you submitted your form W-4 to your employer what did you fill for personal allowance. I know I filled 0 for personal allowance so I don't end up paying IRS back some money.

My sister filled 1 for personal allowance when she submitted Form W-4 to her employer so when she filed her taxes IRS seized all her tax refund and mailed her a letter saying she owes almost $400+ in federal taxes. She had to sent them a check to offset the bill if not they will start garnishing her paycheck.

You get more taxed on any overtime income than at the tax rate for your regular income. For most places, overtime is any hours exceeding 40 per week or 80 per 2 weeks. If an hourly employee and you work more than 40 hours a week, the excess is overtime and you're paid at 1.5 times your wage for those excess hours. For others who may not understand, here's an example: last week you worked 60 hours a week and you're an hourly employee making $10 per hour. Thus you worked 40 regular hours + 20 hours in excess and your overtime hours are 20 hours. Your wages for that week will be calculated as 40 hours * $10 = $400 (being the normal regular hours) + 20 hours * $15 ($10 * 1.5) = $300 for a total of $700 for that week. Each of the $400 and $300 will be taxed separately and for a paycheck of $700, you can expect to have a final pay after tax deductions of around $550, give or take. Income wages gotten from overtime is often taxed at a higher tax rate.

If you worked 'overtime' as you said based on more than 20 hours per week but still under 40 hours per week, it would still not actually be considered overtime in terms of taxes. More taxes are taken from you on the higher income you earn and if you're single (ie '1' on your tax forms). That should partly explain the reason the tax deducted from your paycheck jumps from $80+ to $100+ as you income moved higher from $400ish to $500ish. There are tax brackets for certain ranges of income one makes.

For all the tax filing talk, last year I did not file as a resident for tax purposes and my tax return was not in the neighbourhood of the 'sums' being mentioned here.

bigfrancis21:
For all the tax filing talk, last year I did not file as a resident for tax purposes and my tax return was not in the neighbourhood of the 'sums' being mentioned here.

you filed with your school. A friend got $35

slimmy05:
They should stop sending it to International Students then. The chances of any average earner getting audited is slim, if not a lot of indians would be paying dearly now. That being said, I am filling for it..

ROFLMFAO!! I sorry for you!! Your leg never strong for country whey you dey you want to commit a civil crime.

Awuf dey tear belle sometimes!!! Be careful you risk incarceration, deportation and or financial indebtedness.

Jchi9876:



ROFLMFAO!! I sorry for you!! Your leg never strong for country whey you dey you want to commit a civil crime.

Awuf dey tear belle sometimes!!! Be careful you risk incarceration, deportation and or financial indebtedness.

I need to take back my tax since they've decided not to renew your mental rehab stay, knowing fully well that you're a menance to the society

[/quote]

slimmy05:
I need to take back my tax since they've decided not to renew your mental rehab stay, knowing fully well that you're a menance to the society

bigfrancis21:


Well, after you arrive here in the US you would find out that you need a form of identification at many places you go to. As an international student, your international passport is a form of identification but you won't always carry your passport around and some places would ask for a government-issued ID, meaning an ID issued by the US government.

A drivers license or a state ID from the state you live in both suffice as form of ID for you. You can either get a state ID or drivers license. Here in Maryland, you're not allowed to have the two. If you get a state ID and later go for a drivers license you'll be asked to tender your state ID. If you first obtain a drivers license, you cannot be allowed to have a state ID later.

Basically, state ID and drivers license look the same physically, at least for here in MD, except that on the state ID there would be something written on it like, 'This is not a driver's license'.

For those still in Nigeria, as soon as you get here try to get a state ID or drivers license and for those who drive in Nigeria and intend to drive after they get here I strongly RECOMMEND that you come here with your drivers license, especially the new form being issued of recent. Or get an international one before coming. Here in MD, for example, you can exchange your Nigerian drivers license for a US one and that will skip you from having to get the learners permit you'll first get and drive with for as many as 18 months if you didn't have a license when you applied. You would still have to take the online and physical driving tests and maybe a few hours of drug abuse class depending on your state. If your drivers license is going to expire soon before you leave Nigeria, please renew it before coming here. I renewed mine shortly before I left Nigeria in 2013 and it's valid for 3 years expiring sometime by the ending of this year. I'm currently preparing to get my US drivers license very soon and having one from your country really helps to save you time.

The MVA (as it is called here in the Washington DC metro area to avoid conflicting with the usage of 'DMV' here that refers to DC itself, Maryland state and Virginia state that make up the greater Washington DC area) or DMV in your state issues this ID. And you'll need a form of identification (your international passport), proof of lawful status (such as I-20, your status which they verify with DHS here in MD), proof of residency in the state, and your original SSN card to apply. Depending on your state you may need extra documents.

Thanks so much for the explanation

bigfrancis21:


You get more taxed on any overtime income than at the tax rate for your regular income. For most places, overtime is any hours exceeding 40 per week or 80 per 2 weeks. If an hourly employee and you work more than 40 hours a week, the excess is overtime and you're paid at 1.5 times your wage for those excess hours. For others who may not understand, here's an example: last week you worked 60 hours a week and you're an hourly employee making $10 per hour. Thus you worked 40 regular hours + 20 hours in excess and your overtime hours are 20 hours. Your wages for that week will be calculated as 40 hours * $10 = $400 (being the normal regular hours) + 20 hours * $15 ($10 * 1.5) = $300 for a total of $700 for that week. Each of the $400 and $300 will be taxed separately and for a paycheck of $700, you can expect to have a final pay after tax deductions of around $550, give or take. Income wages gotten from overtime is often taxed at a higher tax rate.

If you worked 'overtime' as you said based on more than 20 hours per week but still under 40 hours per week, it would still not actually be considered overtime in terms of taxes. More taxes are taken from you on the higher income you earn and if you're single (ie '1' on your tax forms). That should partly explain the reason the tax deducted from your paycheck jumps from $80+ to $100+ as you income moved higher from $400ish to $500ish. There are tax brackets for certain ranges of income one makes.

Thanks for your detailed explanation.

I was talking about "overtime" based on more than 40 hours per week. During summer time I earned about $12/hr for regular pay and about $18/hr for any over time in my old job but in my new job I make just about $9/hr for regular pay and about $13.50/hr for any over time

From my observation it seems the more money you make they more taxes are deducted.

bigfrancis21:
For all the tax filing talk, last year I did not file as a resident for tax purposes and my tax return was not in the neighbourhood of the 'sums' being mentioned here.

$2000+ tax refund is pretty much standard for anyone who worked last year and made at least $10000+ or more.

Last year my other sister received about $4000+ in tax refund because her gross income was about $30,000+. So if she had someone to claim as a dependent she would have gotten probably around $9000+ in tax refund.

bigfrancis21:


Honestly I'm not really sure. You can check out Minnesota State University to see if they offer your course. It is a cheap school and they give all international undergraduate students half tuition waiver under a program called cultural contribution something.

You could also use google as well to do your search. Take care.

alright thanks,,I'll check it out.

LUCAS99:


Thanks for your detailed explanation.

I was talking about "overtime" based on more than 40 hours per week. During summer time I earned about $12/hr for regular pay and about $18/hr for any over time in my old job but in my new job I make just about $9/hr for regular pay and about $13.50/hr for any over time

From my observation it seems the more money you make they more taxes are deducted.

@bold...off course. Uncle Sam makes sure you're taxed on every dollar that you earn.

There are many tax loopholes in this country which mostly the rich take advantage of to keep more of their money. The US tax system is a crooked one. They made the tax laws to tax everyone and at the same time put in place tax loopholes here and there for some to beat the same system and pay less in taxes. Think of it as a Naija-style of system where you benefit from it depending on how you play your game. Thousands of people have gotten away with billions of tax-free dollars through using these tax loopholes, with majority of this money stashed away in 'tax havens' abroad. The middle and lower class in the US effectively pay more in taxes than the wealthy ones in the United States. Also, the wealthy ones are able to afford intelligent well-trained tax specialists and lawyers who are able to take advantage of the loopholes to save millions of dollars in taxes. When the wealthy ones pay less than their required taxes, guess who the tax burden to complete that shortage falls on? The very hard working lower and middle class people who work their butt off week in week out, 9 to 5, sometimes 2 or 3 jobs to survive.

The Grand Old Party (GOP) of republicans benefit the most from this system. Made up of wealthy, rich people, they fight tooth and nail to ensure that tax reforms targeting the wealthy to get them to pay more taxes are not instituted. Obama, a democrat, has severally called for tax reforms since 2012 but has been met with stiff opposition from members of Congress, even more tough for him now that republicans are majority in the house of representative and house of senate. Due to conflict of interest between both democratic and republican parties, it's hard for him to get them to work together with him on so many ideas or plans he's had. He's often found himself left with executive action to implement certain laws. However, laws implemented through executive action are not permanent and could be wiped away by the executive action of a succeeding president - only bills that pass through the house of representative and are signed by the president are permanently part of the US constitution. The president has the final approval/veto power, though, for bills that pass through the house of Representatives. Really tough times for Obama.

LUCAS99:


$2000+ tax refund is pretty much standard for anyone who worked last year and made at least $10000+ or more.

Last year my other sister received about $4000+ in tax refund because her gross income was about $30,000+. So if she had someone to claim as a dependent she would have gotten probably around $9000+ in tax refund.

Yea with 3 kids as dependents, a woman could receive, at least, $6000 in tax refunds from the 3 kids alone, plus other possible tax returns. This financial incentive hugely encourages american teenagers and ladies, especially from the african american community, to start popping babies as early as possible. Each child is potential tax money per head plus other monies received from the government in terms of welfare support, child support from ex spouses, alimony etc. all year long.

LUCAS99:


$2000+ tax refund is pretty much standard for anyone who worked last year and made at least $10000+ or more.

Last year my other sister received about $4000+ in tax refund because her gross income was about $30,000+. So if she had someone to claim as a dependent she would have gotten probably around $9000+ in tax refund.

Does the $2,000+ tax refund include the one gotten for educational credit?

Also, isn't your tax refund (excluding the instances of claiming a dependent) also determined by how much taxes was withheld from your total income? That is, can you get a tax refund of amount equal to or greater than what he/she paid as taxes on total income earned? For example, using your example can someone who earned $10,000 in a year and paid $2,300 in taxes (or had $2,300 withheld in taxes by his employer) with no dependents to claim receive a refund equal to or greater than $2,300?

bigfrancis21:



Does the $2,000+ tax refund include the one gotten for educational credit?

Also, isn't your tax refund (excluding the instances of claiming a dependent) also determined by how much taxes was withheld from your total income? That is, can you get a tax refund of amount equal to or greater than what he/she paid as taxes on total income earned? For example, using your example can someone who earned $10,000 in a year and paid $2,300 in taxes (or had $2,300 withheld in taxes by his employer) with no dependents to claim receive a refund equal to or greater than $2,300?

Yes the $2,000+ tax refund include the one gotten for educational credit. I got $1000 as a result of the educational credit. Then I got an additional $1000+ from Federal and State Taxes withheld.

You can only receive a refund equal to the sum of the Federal and State Taxes withheld from all your paycheck.

As you know you cannot receive refunds for Social Security Taxes and Medicare taxes withheld. I had about $600 withheld for Social Security Taxes and an additional $200+ for Medicare taxes but you cannot be able to get those social security benefits until you are retired and/or you are at least 65 years old.

warriboy21:

baba hapy new year o

bros happy happy new year God go make Us bigger this new year

LUCAS99:


Yes the $2,000+ tax refund include the one gotten for educational credit. I got $1000 as a result of the educational credit. Then I got an additional $1000+ from Federal and State Taxes withheld.

You can to claim receive a refund equal to the sum of the Federal and State Taxes withheld from all your paycheck.

As you know you cannot receive refunds for Social Security Taxes and Medicare taxes withheld. I had about $600 withheld for Social Security Taxes and an additional $200+ for Medicare taxes but you cannot be able to get those social security benefits until you are retired and/or you are at least 65 years old.

information never expires!! this is good.

LUCAS99:

Did you work last year? If yes your employer will send you your W-2 by January 31 to file your taxes.

Last year I filed my taxes using my Form 1098-T from my school and my Form W-2 from my employer. I got about $2000+ in tax refund.

If $2000 + your annual tax, then you filed as an undergraduate who is between 1 to 3 years of studies in US. Right?

LUCAS99:
Dear forumites I received my State ID in the mail last week but I noticed something unusual. I checked the expiration date and noticed that my State ID is valid for only one year { It expires on the same date my Form I-20 expires}. When I checked my siblings ID I noticed that there state ID is valid for seven years. The one thing I can think of is maybe because they are immigrants and I am a non-immigrant.

Is this rule only applicable in Charlotte North Carolina and does anybody have similar experiences.

Ojap, Imperiouxx, Msnas, bigfrancis21, Walspring, Slimmy05, DARKLIGHT, Zeezahbee and other forumites your inputs are highly appreciated.

I never did state ID but my driver license was for 8 years when I got it in NM. Some states give you for the duration of your studies but NM is lenient.

slimmy05:
Fly with your pocket, flights are expensive at this point. You don't need Uber, when you get there, take a cab to the nearest greyhound station. You can check for their schedule online.

I don't think yellow cabs runs from east brooklyn to port authority in Manhattan. He should look for cabs around the airport. If not that he has bags, train is the easiest and cheapest to Manhattan from Queens.

Happy Sunday guys. I really appreciate what you guys have been doing here. I want to ask if anyone would be going to Tennessee technological university this spring. I would like to talk to someone who attends the school or who is going there this spring.

Thanks.

imperiouxx:


I don't think yellow cabs runs from east brooklyn to port authority in Manhattan. He should look for cabs around the airport. If not that he has bags, train is the easiest and cheapest to Manhattan from Queens.

Yellow cabs does but u pay less via train route. Happy new year sir imperiouxx.

Hey people, tomorrow is my interview. Please I need directions from Yaba to Walter carrignton oo.

Take a brt to the island stop at marina get down cross to the other side and get a taxi or trek if you can I know my way there on foot.

AlbertEinstein:
Hey people, tomorrow is my interview. Please I need directions from Yaba to Walter carrignton oo.

babsharon:


Yellow cabs does but u pay less via train route. Happy new year sir imperiouxx.

Happy new to you. Good for him if he has small or one bag.

Please who knows much about Minnesota state university, i made research on dere site and it was stated dere dat less than 10% of student frm Nigeria got deir Visa approved with the school. Pls is it an approved school. Pls enlighten me more on the sch. Thnks