International Student in the US: I've Finished OPT, Now on CPT—Do I Pay Social Security & Medicare Taxes?

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1

Hey everyone, hoping some tax-savvy international students or experts here can help clear up something confusing!

I’ve been studying and working in the US for about 3.5 years now. I completed my first master’s and used up my 1-year OPT. Currently, I’m pursuing a second master’s degree and working under CPT.

Here’s my big question: Do I need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes now that I’ve been in the US for more than three years?

I’ve read conflicting things online, and tax rules around F-1 students, OPT, CPT, and the “five-year exemption rule” for non-residents are making my head spin.

Any insights or experiences you can share? Thanks in advance—hoping to avoid any surprises come tax season!

2

SSN & Medicare need to be paid after your 5 years of residency. let’s say if you exchange in the US in 2019, and you left in 2020, but once you decide to come back to the States maybe in 2025, then the residency is counted as 2019 til now, so you will need to pay it. Once you change your visa from F-1 to Green Card or H-1B visa, you will need to pay it as well.