Background
Defined Contribution Plan (DCP)
FICA tax calculations
Statement of Earnings (Paycheck Receipt)
DCP Balance and Investment Options
Payroll Address
DCP Contributions & UCSF W-2, Statement of Earnings
DCP and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Contributions
When You Graduate or Leave UCSF
Web Addresses & Phone Numbers
Student Income Not Subject to Student FICA
Under Section 3121(b) (10) of the Internal Revenue Code, services performed by a student at a college or university are generally exempt from paying FICA taxes for Social Security (OASDI) and Medicare, provided that the student is "enrolled and regularly attending classes." Effective January 1, 2006, U.S. citizens, permanent residents or resident aliens employed in student academic title codes must be enrolled at half-time or more and work at less than 80% effort for at least one day of the pay period to remain exempt from FICA taxes.
| Summary of criteria for FICA tax exemption (U.S. citizens, permanent residents or resident aliens) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time of Year | Minimum Number of Units | Student Academic Employment |
| Academic Year (Sept-June) | 6 units | Working at less than 80% for at least one day of the pay period |
| Advanced to candidacy | ||
| Summer (July & August) | 3 units (5-week summer session) | |
| 6 units (10-week summer session) | ||
| Advanced to candidacy | ||
California State Assembly Bill 906 authorized the University to mandate that employees who are not members of the University of California Retirement Plan become "safe harbor" participants in the Defined Contribution Plan (DCP), in lieu of contributing to Social Security. The DCP is a qualified retirement plan administered by the University of California Employee Benefits Office in the Office of the President. In the UC system, graduate students who do not meet the student FICA exemption criteria contribute 7.5% of their gross wages to the DCP and 1.45% to Medicare on a pre-tax basis. DCP contributions accumulate in the student's account until employment with UC ends, at which time the student may withdraw or roll-over the funds to an IRA or qualified retirement plan (see “When You Graduate or Leave UCSF," below, for details).
The following is a 2004 tax year example of deductions for a student with a monthly gross salary of $1,000 during the summer, when enrollment falls below half-time (Single, Claiming 1 Allowance or Exemption):
| $1,000.00 | = | Gross Wages |
| - 75.00 | = | 7.5% DCP |
| 925.00 | = | Taxable Amount (for calculation of Federal/State taxes) |
On $925 monthly taxable amount, a student claiming "S-1" would have $44.57 withheld in federal taxes and $2.27 in CA State taxes ($44.57 + $2.27 = $46.84 total).
| $1,000.00 | = | Gross Wages |
| - 14.50 | = | Medicare |
| - 75.00 | = | DCP |
| - 46.84 | = | Federal/State tax withholding |
| 863.66 | = | Net Amount of paycheck |
In the above example of $1,000 gross income (claiming S-1), the Statement of Earnings will reflect the following information:
Total Gross Earnings : $1000.00
DCP SAVINGS: $75.00 *
Social Security (FICA) Medicare: $14.50
Federal Tax: $44.57
CA State Tax: $2.27
Total Deductions: $136.34
Net Earnings: $863.66
* Note: DCP will initially automatically default to the Savings Plan. If you redirect future contributions to one of the other UC plans, this will be reflected on your subsequent statement.
Students may check their DCP balance on-line with Fidelity Retirement Services, which has been contracted by UC to manage retirement savings accounts for its employees: www.netbenefits.com. Students logging in for the first time will need to request a PIN by clicking on "Forgot or Need to Reset Your PIN?" Alternatively, students may contact Fidelity Retirement Services by phone at 1-866-682-7787. Although DCP contributions automatically default to the Savings plan, they may be redirected to one of the other investment funds. A description of investment options is on the Fidelity Retirement Services Web site noted above.
W-2 forms and DCP information are mailed to the address entered in the UC payroll system. Therefore, students are to notify their payroll administrators whenever their address changes.
DCP contributions are reflected on year-end UCSF W-2 Statements of Earnings as follows: Box 14 (Other) will state "DCP-CAS" and the total amount of the DCP contribution. This amount is not reported as taxable income; i.e., this amount will not appear in Box 1 (Federal wages) or Box 17 (CA State wages). Box 15 will be marked with an "X" under Pension plan.
Participation in the DCP may affect the income tax deductibility of any contributions a student or his/her spouse makes to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). IRA contributions may still qualify for a full or partial income tax deduction, depending on adjusted gross income and tax filing status. Students may also make non-deductible contribution to an IRA and defer taxes on the earnings. Check with a tax advisor or complete the IRA Deduction Worksheet in the IRS Form 1040 Instruction booklet.
Payroll administrators must process a separation to end employment with the University when a student graduates or withdraws without any prospect of continued employment at any UC campus or research facility. Upon separation, student employees may withdraw or roll-over accumulated DCP balances by contacting Fidelity Retirement Services. Please note that DCP funds cannot be released until all payroll activity is complete, which may take 30 to 60 days after the separation date.
UCOP Benefits Web site: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu
UCOP Benefits Customer Service: 1-800-888-8267
Fidelity Retirement Services Web site: www.netbenefits.com
Fidelity Retirement Services Customer Service: 1-866-682-7787
Certain types of student income are exempt from Student FICA: