JHU | Student Employment Services

Student earnings (Federal Work-Study and NON Work-Study) are taxable.
Federal and Maryland State Tax Withholding Certificates can be downloaded for your convenience (see below).

Both forms must be completed so your employer (JHU) can withhold the correct amount of tax from your earnings. Tax to be withheld is based on the number of allowances you claim. If you are uncertain of the amount to claim, you can use the "Personal Allowances Worksheet" to obtain the number (found on form W-4); or seek advice from your family or a certified tax accountant. Staff members within Student Employment Services are not qualified to provide tax advice.

Nonresident aliens are required to complete W-4: single, 1 allowance, NRA on line 6. In addition, Nonresident aliens are NOT eligible to claim tax exempt. Please click here to view a sample W-4.

All other students; to claim exemption from withholding, you generally would have to have had no tax liability the previous year and expect none in the current year. If claiming exempt (no taxes withheld) that status is good for one calendar year (January - December). New forms to claim 'exempt' must be completed and submitted to Student Employment Services at the beginning of each year.

If you plan to claim 'exempt' from tax withholdings please note the following:

On the Federal W-4 form, be sure to leave line #5 BLANK when claiming 'exempt' from taxes (example). You cannot claim allowances and claim 'exempt' from taxes simultaneously.

On the Maryland MW-507 be sure to leave line #1 BLANK when claiming 'exempt' from taxes (example). You cannot claim number(s) of exemptions and claim 'exempt' form taxes simultaneously.

Simply stated, when you claim 'exempt' from taxes you are instructing the University NOT to withhold taxes from your paycheck. On the other hand, when you claim allowances and/or a number of exemptions you are instructing the University TO withhold taxes from your paycheck.

Please submit completed forms to Student Employment Services, Garland Hall 72.