I received my signing bonus when I was still in college in the UK. I am not a US citizen, and did not hold an US visa at the point when I was in school and received the bonus. My employer originally paid the bonus to me as non-taxable wages but are looking to withhold additional taxes associated with my signing bonus to catch up.
Is this right? Is there any way to argue that my signing bonus should have retained its status as non-taxable wages given that I had no visa whatsoever when it was paid?
Thank you.
