Life changes
Your First Job: What Changes at Tax Time
A first job usually means a first Form W-2 and, often, a first return of your own. Most of it is simpler than it looks, and a few choices made on day one decide how tax season goes.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
What changes on your return
Wages from an employer are reported to you on Form W-2 after the year ends. Box 1 shows taxable wages, Box 2 shows the federal income tax withheld from your paychecks, and the state boxes show what went to South Carolina (or another state if you worked there). Your return compares the tax you actually owe with what was withheld. Too much withheld means a refund; too little means a balance due.
If you earn below the filing threshold you may not be required to file at all. But if any federal tax was withheld, the only way to get it back is to file a return. Many first-time workers skip filing and leave their own money with the IRS.
If you work for tips or earn overtime, new federal deductions for qualified tips and the extra premium part of overtime pay may apply. Your employer reports those amounts, so keep every W-2 and pay stub you receive.
The W-4 you filled out on day one
Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal tax to hold back from each paycheck. A new hire with one job and no other income can usually complete just the basic steps. Problems start when you hold two part-time jobs, because each employer withholds as if it were your only one, and together they often hold back too little.
South Carolina has its own withholding form, the SC W-4. If you never filled one out, your employer generally withholds state tax using default settings. Our W-4 withholding calculator is a good way to check your paycheck before the year is half gone.
If your parents still claim you
Getting a job does not by itself stop your parents from claiming you as a dependent. Whether they can depends on your age, whether you are a student, where you live and who provides your support. If they can claim you, you can still file your own return to report your wages and get your withholding back, but you must check the box saying someone can claim you, and your standard deduction is figured under the dependent rules.
The most common mix-up is both returns claiming the same person. When that happens, the second return to arrive is usually rejected or later questioned by the IRS. Talk with your parents before either of you files. Our page on a child getting older covers this from the parents’ side.
What to bring and common mistakes
- Every W-2 you received, including from short summer or seasonal jobs
- Any Form 1099-NEC or 1099-K if you also did freelance, delivery or app-based work
- Form 1098-T and receipts for books and fees if you are in college
- Your Social Security card or number and a photo ID
- Bank routing and account numbers for a direct-deposit refund
Mistakes we see most: filing before the last W-2 arrives, forgetting a job that lasted only a few weeks, treating side gig income as not counting because no form came, and claiming yourself when a parent is also claiming you. Gig work is taxed differently from wages; see starting a side hustle.
Is it worth having a preparer?
A single W-2 with no other income is often something you can file yourself, and we will tell you so. Help is worth it when there is more going on: a parent who also wants to claim you, college credits to split, gig income next to wages, or work in more than one state. Our first-time filer guide walks through the basics, and our tax preparation service handles the rest. If a parent is already a client, it often makes sense to prepare both returns together so the dependency questions line up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file taxes for my first part-time job?
It depends on how much you earned and whether someone can claim you as a dependent. Below the filing threshold you may not be required to file. Even so, if federal or state tax was withheld from your paychecks, filing is the only way to get that money refunded. Check Box 2 of your W-2: if there is a number there, filing usually makes sense.
Can my parents claim me if I have a job?
Often yes. Having a job does not automatically end dependency. The tests look at your age, student status, where you lived and who paid for your support. If you qualify as their dependent, you still file your own return for your wages but check the box saying someone can claim you. Compare notes with your parents before either return is filed.
What should I put on my W-4 for my first job?
If this is your only job and you have no other income, the basic steps on the form are usually enough. If you hold more than one job at the same time, or you also earn freelance income, complete the multiple-jobs step or add extra withholding, because each employer withholds as if it were your only source of pay. A withholding calculator helps you check.
Why did I get a W-2 from a job I only had for a few weeks?
Every employer that paid you wages during the year must send a W-2, no matter how short the job was. Those wages have to be on your return. Leaving one off is a common reason the IRS later sends a letter proposing more tax, because the employer already reported that W-2 to the IRS under your Social Security number.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
You changed jobs
Two W-2s, an old 401(k), a bonus and withholding that may not fit anymore.
Learn moreYou started a side hustle
Side income next to a W-2: Schedule C, self-employment tax, expenses and estimated payments.
Learn moreYour child is getting older
Why the refund drops when a child ages out of credits, and what still applies.
Learn moreYour child started college
Form 1098-T, the education credits, 529 withdrawals and who should claim the student.
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