Paycheck Deduction for a Minor?

Question

I am a minor working in Texas as a cashier at a McDonald's resteraunt (please, no comments about my job, I know it's McDonald's). I have no children, and because of, at my orientation I was told to put the number of beneficiaries I had as 0. A few days later, I told my mother about this, and she told me that I should've put myself down as a beneficiary because I was a minor, but this didn't believe her. Could someone please let me know if my mother was right?

The reason I'm asking is because I know that if you don't have any beneficiaries the government takes the maximum amount out of your paycheck each payday, and if my mother was correct, this would mean I would get a tax refund in April. As you can see in my above question, I have no idea whether I can count myself as a beneficiary, so any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

I agree with your employer.  As a minor, you will be claimed on your parents tax return so you will not be able to claim the standard deduction on your own tax return.  Therefore, a greater percentage of your income will be taxed than if you were able to file on your own.  You could probably claim '1' on your w-4 and still have enough paid in, but I'm of the better safe than sorry philosophy and would recommend that you leave it at zero for the summer.

Don't be ashamed of your job.  It's your income, it's not who you are.  Good for you for working!

Answer 2

If you claim zero they will take the most out of you check that they can, then when you file your taxes you could claim 1 and get most of it back. My old boss use to do it that way before he started working for himself.