Guides

Plain, sourced answers on compliant pay stubs. Federal and Massachusetts tax, F-1 and FICA, and what a founder actually needs.

11 guides

Do I withhold FICA for an F-1 student?

No: F-1 nonresident-alien students are exempt from Social Security and Medicare on authorized work. You still withhold income tax.

F-1 OPT students are FICA-exempt as nonresident aliens. If Social Security or Medicare was withheld in error, here is how to get it back.

F-1 OPT employees who are nonresident aliens are exempt from FICA. You still withhold income tax. Here is what goes on the pay stub.

F-1 students are generally nonresident aliens for their first five calendar years in the US. Here is what that means for your taxes and pay stub.

Free pay stub generators often skip tax math entirely. Here is what to check before trusting any tool with a real paycheck.

Pick the right pay stub generator: what the tax engine must cover, the red flags that reveal a fake stub, and where cheap tools cut corners.

International student pay stub explained: which taxes are withheld, which are exempt, and what every line means for F-1 students in 2026.

Massachusetts requires an itemized pay statement every pay period. Here is every field the Wage Act mandates and what goes on each line.

Pay stubs and payroll are not the same thing. Here is what each one covers, and how to figure out which you actually need first.

STEM OPT employer requirements in one checklist: E-Verify enrollment, Form I-983, I-9, reporting duties, and what goes on the pay stub.

How to fill out W-4 and M-4 in Massachusetts, plus what F-1 nonresident aliens must do differently on each form.