1. Domestic and Permanent Resident Student
Amherst College
Instructions for
Domestic and Permanent Resident Student
Employment Forms

2. Print the following forms from:
As a new student employee of Amherst College there are several forms you are required to complete before you can be entered into the student payroll system. The following pages will show step-by-step instructions for each employment form.
Print the following forms from:
or stop by the Office of Financial Aid to pick-up paper copies.
Department of Homeland Security I-9 Form
Federal Withholding W-4 Form
Massachusetts State Withholding M-4 Form
Direct Deposit
Once you have completed the forms listed above, proceed to the Office of Financial Aid, B-5 Converse Hall.
***** IMPORTANT *****
You are required to bring ORIGINAL Identity and Employment Authorization Documents to prove your eligibility to work in the United States. Please refer to the list provided by the Department of Homeland Security. 

3. Accepted Identification
Students must present either one List A document or a combination of List B and C documents
ALL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINALS – NO PHOTOCOPIES OR SCANNED COPIES
**** ALL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINALS – NO PHOTOCOPIES OR SCANS ****

4. Form I-9 – Complete Section 1
Identity verification and employment authorization for individuals hired in the United States
Use Permanent Home Address
Date of Birth, Social Sec. number, address and phone number
Check Box 1, 2 or 3
Sign and Date

5. Form W-4
Directs Amherst College to deduct Federal withholding from your paycheck
Students should start by referring to this Exemption Clarification flow chart to find possible “exemption” status.
If you are not eligible to claim
“exemption”, refer
to the next
instruction page.
If “exemption” status can be
claimed
the W-4 should
be filled out
like this.
Answer “Yes” if you weren’t required to file a tax return OR you received a FULL refund of Federal withholding from your wages if you were required to file tax return

6. W-4 “Exemption”
When you claim “exemption” from Federal withholding you are giving instructions to Amherst College not to deduct Federal withholding from your paycheck since you will not have a tax liability with the I.R.S. for the current year.
“Exemption” from Federal withholding is valid for the tax year you complete the form until the middle of February the following tax year.
It is your responsibility to update your W-4 Form when you return to campus at the start of each spring semester. Failure to update your “exemption” will result in your Federal withholding status being changed by the College.

7. If you were not able to meet the requirements to claim “exemption” status you should complete the Personal Allowance Worksheet in the middle of the W-4 form.
The allowance number you are able to claim in Box 5 determines how much Federal withholding will be deducted from your paycheck.
Single -0 will deduct the most withholding.
Single-1 will deduct less withholding
“Exemption” will deduct no withholding.

8. Form W-4 continued
If you cannot claim “Exemption”, please complete Personal Allowances Worksheet found in the middle section of the W-4 Form
Enter total number of allowances from Line H in Box 5
Enter total number of allowances from Line H in Box 5
Use Permanent Home Address
Sign & Date

9. Form M-4
Directs Amherst College to withhold the correct Massachusetts tax from your pay
Use Permanent Home Address
If you are a full time student who will be earning less than $8,000 per year in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
check Box 5-D.
No state tax withholding will occur.
Date & Sign

10. Direct Deposit
Self-Service Banking Information is now available to all employees, including student employees, via AC Data.  New online functionality allows employees to easily enter and change direct deposit and bank account information themselves.  
Additions or changes to direct deposit bank account information may take up to two pay cycles to become effective.  Any changes to bank account information must be verified first with your bank.  The verification process is performed within the College’s payroll system – there is no additional action needed by the employee at this point of the process unless your bank is unable to verify the account information.  Once the account information has been verified, the changes will be included in the next payroll run.
REMINDER - all students can view and print their pay stub online via AC Data. Amherst is encouraging student employees to "go green" by choosing not to receive a paper pay paycheck.
Student employees are encouraged to use direct deposit and online pay stubs as they are more secure and are accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week (with internet access). Pay stub information is available online one day ahead of the funds being deposited in the student’s bank account.
Any questions, please contact Rachel Robinson in the Student Payroll office at or by at
You can also visit their FAQ page for answers to many common questions at: