I need help completing employment documents!

Hi everyone,

I've been following the news thread for years and am now making my first official post. Luckily, I was granted DACA, and I also landed my first full-time job in the tech industry!

I am using TriNet, the HR service platform, to complete my W-4 forms and such, but due to my status, I am having trouble completing my forms. (I don't have problems submitting the forms but I don't really know the correct or best answers).

I'd really appreciate it if anyone could help. Consulting my company is a bit nervewracking since they are unaware of my status, the company is small so many people may know of my status, and I don't know how personal opinions will affect my worklife. I need to get this in as soon as possible.

-Background: I am single, live in NJ, work in NY, projected salary is 45k, worked as an independent contractor for about 9 months at the company that hired me
-First off, on my form i-9, I listed myself as "an alien authorized to work" and I'm pretty sure I categorized myself correctly here.
-In my profile in the HR service site, my citizenship status is listed as "an alien authorized to work until specified date" and I am guessing this is correct as well.
-Now, here is the part I am confused about. Initially, I was listed as a USC by default since I provided my SS. I told them how I listed my status in my form i9 and my status was changed to "an alien authorized to work", which is correct. However, I also received an email saying my taxes will be witheld like a "foreign national's". Is this correct? I believe foreign nationals have a higher withholding rate and I, of course, want to keep as many dollars as I can. Are DACA beneficiaries' withholdings withheld at the foreign national rate? (I'd be glad to show screenshots or emails via PM if it helps) Or, should my taxes be witheld like a USC or PR's?
-My earnings will also be witheld for federal tax, NJ tax, NY tax, and local tax according to the HR service. However, I only saw the local tax pop upwhich is an MTA payroll tax, after my status was changed from a USC to an alien authorized to work. Am I now paying this local tax because I am not a USC?I have a feeling that my taxes are being witheld at a higher rate. Correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you!

No No No. What they did was classify you as a nonresident alien on the W4. The taxes will be at a much higher rate and you would file as a nonresident when it comes to tax time . For Tax Purposes we are classified as Resident Aliens not to be confused with "Permanent Residents". If you lived here for more than 364 days last year and 180 days this year (which you would of course, being under DACA).

I don't know about the MTA payroll tax. It looks to be a tax on businesses in NY. Take a look http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_fo...mt/mta305i.pdf

I asked the HR service to classify me as a Resident Alien for tax purposes. I took a look at the MTA payroll before but its still strange. Aren't the businesses or employers and not the workers supposed to get taxed?

That's what I'm thinking. It even said it in that link I sent ya.