BU | Student Employment Office | Students

Welcome to Student Payroll on the web. The Student Payroll staff works to ensure that all students who work at Boston University are paid in a timely and accurate fashion. Each department has their own procedures for the processing of weekly time sheets and the distribution of pay checks. Your supervisor should inform you of the departmental procedures. Use the menu below to navigate through our pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Employment Guide for International Students

Tax Treaty List

Free Tax Help Options

Frequently Asked Questions About:

Paychecks
Direct Deposit
Taxes
Other

Paychecks

When will I be paid?
When does my time sheet need to be given to my supervisor in order to be paid on time?
Where will I pick-up my paychecks?
I have two jobs. Will I get two paychecks or one?
I have two jobs. Where will I get my paychecks?
How do I change my check destination?
What should I do if I don't receive my paycheck?
I wasn't paid the right amount. What should I do?
I have been working for three weeks but I have not been paid. What should I do?
I have found a paycheck that I received four months ago but never cashed. Is there anything I can do?

I accidentally washed one of my paychecks. Is there anything I can do?
I lost my paycheck. Is there anything I can do?
I will not be in Boston to get my last paycheck. What should I do?

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When will I be paid?

Paychecks are issued to hourly paid students on Fridays. You will receive your first paycheck on the Friday of your second week of work provided your time sheet was submitted on-time.

Paychecks are issued to monthly paid students on the last Friday of the month.

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When does my time sheet need to be given to my supervisor in order to be paid on time?

You should discuss the procedures and deadlines for submitting time sheets with your supervisor. Holidays may necessitate early time sheet deadlines, so be sure to also ask your supervisor how you will be notified of early deadlines.

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Where will I pick up my paychecks?

Paychecks are distributed to the department where you are working. You should discuss with your supervisor what the departmental procedures are for paycheck distribution.

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I have two jobs. Will I get two paychecks or one?

You will receive one paycheck. Your earnings from all your jobs will be combined into one paycheck during each payroll period.

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I have two jobs. Where will I pick-up my paychecks?

You determine the job location where you prefer to pick up your paychecks. Let both your supervisors know what your preference is so they may designate your check destination.

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How do I change my check destination?

You should ask your payroll coordinator to submit a check destination change for you.

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What should I do if I don't receive my paycheck?

If you do not receive a paycheck you should talk to your supervisor. Your supervisor is responsible for submitting your hiring documents and/or time sheets. Your supervisor will have copies of your records. Your supervisor will best be able to follow up with your payroll coordinator about any payroll problems.

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I wasn't paid the right amount. What should I do?

You should speak with your supervisor to determine the best way to resolve the problem.

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I have been working for three weeks but I have not been paid. What should I do?

You should speak to your supervisor immediately. If your supervisor is unable to help, you should have your supervisor contact your payroll coordinator.

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I have found a paycheck that I received four months ago but never cashed. Is there anything I can do?

Yes, you can request that your paycheck be reissued. You should complete a Stop Payment/Reissue Request form and submit it to the Student Payroll Office with the paycheck. Submitting the paycheck with the request will speed up the processing of the request. It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for a paycheck to be reissued. Paychecks are not valid beyond 90 days of issue.

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I accidentally washed one of my paychecks. Is there anything I can do?

Yes, you can request that your paycheck be reissued. You should complete a Stop Payment/Reissue Request form and submit it to the Student Payroll Office with as many pieces of the paycheck that you can salvage. Submitting the paycheck with the request will speed up the processing of the request. It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for a paycheck to be reissued.

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Yes, you can request that a stop payment be put on the paycheck. You should complete a Stop Payment/Reissue Request form and submit it to the Student Payroll Office. It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for a paycheck to be reissued.

I will not be in Boston to get my last paycheck. What should I do?

You should speak with your supervisor to learn what the departmental procedures are for the mailing of your last check for the semester.

I have direct deposit but I am changing banks. Do I need to do anything?
How do I cancel my direct deposit?

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What is direct deposit and why is it a good option for students?

Direct Deposit, a benefit offered by Boston University, is a safe and convenient way to deposit your earnings into your checking or savings account. Whether you're on break, away for a long weekend or sick on pay day, your money is automatically credited to your checking or savings account. Imagine, never having to rush to the bank on payday; never worrying about losing or washing your paycheck; and never having to stand in line to cash or deposit your check.

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Are students eligible to take advantage of direct deposit?

Yes. If you would like to take advantage of the direct deposit option you should complete a Payroll Direct Deposit Authorization form found on our website. This form is also available in the Student Payroll Office. Students wishing to have their direct deposit set up to go a checking account should take the necessary information from a current check. Just follow directions given on the Authorization form. Students wishing to have their direct deposit set up to go a savings account should contact their bank and ask for the routing number for direct deposit. (Many banks have this information available on their websites.)

How can I tell the difference between a check and a direct deposit stub?

You can tell the difference by the color. Negotiable paychecks are blue and direct deposit stubs are red. Direct deposit stubs will say that they are non-negotiable and will display your bank account number.

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If I have direct deposit, how do I get my stubs mailed to me?

You should check with the payroll coordinator for your department to learn what the check distribution procedures are for your particular department.

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If I have a problem with direct deposit, how do I solve it? Whom should I contact?

Problems with direct deposit are rare. In fact, you are much more likely to have a problem with a check. But if any problem should arise, contact the Student Payroll Office. The problem can usually be corrected immediately.

I have direct deposit but I am changing banks. Do I need to do anything?

Yes. In order to prevent monies from being deposited into a closed bank account you need to complete a Payroll Direct Deposit Cancellation request. If you would like to continue to have direct deposit with your new bank, you should complete a new Payroll Direct Deposit Authorization. These forms are also available in the Student Payroll Office.

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How do I cancel my direct deposit?

You should complete a Direct Deposit Cancellation Request. This form is also available in the Student Payroll Office. Completed direct deposit cancellation request forms should be submitted to the Student Payroll Office.

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I have not received my 1042S yet. What should I do?

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I am a student. Why are taxes being withheld from my paychecks?

Being a student does not automatically exempt you from having to pay taxes.

Your earnings are subject to both federal and state income taxes.

If you work during the summer, you will also have Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from your paychecks.

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I am on Work-Study. Why are taxes being taken out of my paychecks?

Work-Study earnings are taxable income.

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Do I have to complete a W-4 every year?

No, unless you have claimed exempt. Only students who have claimed exempt need to file a W-4 every year.

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Can I claim exempt on a W-4?

If you are a United States citizen or permanent resident you may claim exempt using a W-4. When completing the W-4 follow the instructions on the top of the W-4 form under the "Exemption from Withholding" section.

If you are an international student you may not claim exempt using a W-4 form. Only those students who are from a country with a tax treaty with the United States (click here to view list) may claim exempt. International Students wishing to declare a tax treaty must come into the Student Payroll Office to complete a tax treaty packet.

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I am an international student. Do I need to pay taxes?

Yes, international students are subject to both state and federal income taxes. However, some students may be eligible to exempt a portion of their earnings from taxes if their country has a tax treaty with the United States. To see a list of those countries you should look at the Tax Treaty List.

Students who are eligible to claim a tax treaty should come to the Student Payroll Office located on the 2nd floor of 881 Commonwealth Avenue to complete a tax treaty packet. Students wishing to claim a treaty should bring their passport, I-94, visa and I-20 or DS-2019 with them. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the treaty documents.

You may claim only one tax treaty each calendar year.

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I am not a resident of Massachusetts. How do I stop state taxes from being withheld from my paychecks?

You should complete an M-4. You may obtain an M-4 in the Student Payroll Office or by downloading one from our website.

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What is a W-2?

A W-2 is a statement of earnings. It is produced each January and it displays how much you earned during the previous calendar year and how much was withheld in taxes. You will need your W-2 form to file a federal tax return.

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Where will my W-2 be sent?

Your W-2 will be sent to the address that is appearing on your paychecks or direct deposit stubs. To change that address you should change your address on the Registrar's file or notify the Student Payroll Office. Address changes submitted to the Student Payroll Office should be sent in writing or via e-mail to stupayro@bu.edu and should include your name, BUID and your new address.

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When will I receive my W-2?

W-2s are mailed out by the University Payroll Office during the month of January. They are typically sent out during the last week on the month.

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I have not received my W-2 yet. What should I do?

If you have not received your W-2 by the second week in February you should mail or fax a request for a Duplicate W-2 to the Student Payroll Office, or you may e-mail a request for a duplicate W-2 to stupayro@bu.edu. The e-mail must include your name, BUID number, social security number, the year you need the W-2 for and the address you would like the duplicate W-2 mailed to. It will take 24-48 hours for a new W-2 to be produced.

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What is a 1042S?

A 1042S is a statement of earnings sent to international students who declared a tax treaty during the previous calendar year. The 1042S is a report of the student's earnings which were exempt under the tax treaty. International students whose earnings exceeded their country's treaty limit will receive both a 1042S and a W-2 and should not file a tax return until they have received both forms.

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When will I receive my 1042S?

1042S' are sent out by the University Payroll Office during the month of March. They are typically sent out during the last week of the month.

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Your 1042S will be sent to the address that is appearing on your paychecks or direct deposit stubs. To change that address you should change your address on the Registrar's file or notify the Student Payroll Office. Address changes submitted to the Student Payroll Office should be sent in writing or via e-mail to stupayro@bu.edu and should include your name, BUID and your new address.

Your earnings are broken down for you on your pay stub. Earnings with a designation of WS are Work-Study earnings. Earnings with a designation of SE are non-Work-Study earnings.

If you do not have your pay stubs you can log onto the Employee Link. Select the "View Pay Stub" option. You will be prompted to enter your kerberos password. Once you have entered your kerberos password you will then be shown your most recent pay stub. If you need to see the breakdown from a previous pay period you should click on the arrow to the right of the date and select the pay period you wish to view.

I am looking to rent an apartment and the landlord needs a verification of my employment. Where can I get one?

You can contact the Student Payroll Office for a verification of employment. All verification requests must be submitted in writing and will take 24-48 hours for processing. Your signature is required on the request.

Many prospective landlords and employers have a standardized form used to request this information. They may submit a request for the information on your behalf but they must include a signed release from you authorizing Boston University to release the information.

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How many hours a week can I work?

The number of hours per week that you can work is between you and your supervisor. However, Work-Study, International and Law students have restrictions on the number of hours per week that they may work. Click here to view a list of those hours restrictions.

Where is the Student Payroll Office?

The Student Payroll Office is located on the 2nd floor of 881 Commonwealth Avenue. (Click here for contacts)

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When is the Student Payroll Office open?

The Student Payroll Office is open Monday through Friday between 9 and 5.

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