bad timing

Weird things always happen untimely. I probably have been in my 'freakin out' mode for the last couple days. In order to feel less guilty while getting on this trip, I've been doing lots of experiments. My professor also wanted to resubmit a manuscript (I was the second author), so there was endless discussion and proofreading. I just felt exhausted. One good thing is that she is going on a vacation too and serendipitously, our vacation times are almost the same. I feel even less guilty (lol).

It's tax season and I still haven't received my W-2 form (It's the form that tells you your total income and the amount that is withheld). Instead I got a 1042-S form last weekend. You get a 1042-S form when your income source is only scholarship or fellowship (Now I'm working in the lab as an RA, which is more like a job), and there's no withholding. It said my gross income was $10,054. I never got this money! I would be really happy to pay tax if I had extra 10,000 dollars, but I didn't! I'll probaby pay $1,000 tax for the money that was never in my pocket.

I wrote to our personnel assistant and told her about the situation (not getting W-2 and getting this weird 1042-S). She gave me a weblink so I could log on and download my own W-2. That part was solved. She also said she had no idea about the 1042-S and suggested me to ask the payroll office. Since I really had my hands full that day, I decided to go there in person first thing the next morning.

The trip to the payroll office lasted only 15 seconds. People there were nice, but they wanted me to ask the Graduate Division. What the heck.

Fortunately, before I went to the Graduate Division, I got an email from the International Student Office. They said that the Graduate Division and payroll office found possible mistakes issuing 1042-S forms and wanted us not to file tax return at this moment.

Well, alright. I was kinda hoping I would find a $10,000 check in my mailbox (lol).