employers don't tax, they can withhold money for the government to pay the tax you owe when you file your return. If you are a contractor you pay your own tax when you file, or you can send in quarterly in advance of owing the tax.
If they only made 4K I wouldn't think they owe a tax.
From Grok 1. Federal Income Tax (the regular income tax)As a single filer (most likely for a 19-year-old), your standard deduction is roughly $15,750 (2025) or $16,100 (2026).
irs.gov
Taxable income = Gross income minus the standard deduction (and any other adjustments/deductions).
With only $4,000 in income: $4,000 – $15,750+ = negative (or $0 taxable income).
The lowest tax bracket is 10% and only applies to taxable income above $0. Since your taxable income is $0, you owe $0 in federal income tax.
19 year old made $4,000 that wasn't taxed by her employer
They called her a contractor
IRS wants $1,000, state wants $150
I don't think much has changed yet.
employers don't tax, they can withhold money for the government to pay the tax you owe when you file your return. If you are a contractor you pay your own tax when you file, or you can send in quarterly in advance of owing the tax.
If they only made 4K I wouldn't think they owe a tax. From Grok 1. Federal Income Tax (the regular income tax)As a single filer (most likely for a 19-year-old), your standard deduction is roughly $15,750 (2025) or $16,100 (2026).
irs.gov
Taxable income = Gross income minus the standard deduction (and any other adjustments/deductions). With only $4,000 in income: $4,000 – $15,750+ = negative (or $0 taxable income). The lowest tax bracket is 10% and only applies to taxable income above $0. Since your taxable income is $0, you owe $0 in federal income tax.
I thought the same. But she has used FreeTaxUsa and TurboTax, and they are both wrong.