Hello folks, can anyone let me if the student on OPT needs to pay social security/medicare taxes? I googled it but coulnot find the concrete answer, as some said F1 students are exempted whereas others said student staying greater than 5 years got to pay those taxes. Does anyone have any idea??? thank you

Answer is NO.

Ref: Been There Done That.

i think my social security was excluded from the paycheck when i wasking on OPT.

if Ssocial security is being taken from your paycheck, ask your HR to remove it. you can file another application to get the refund for all the total amount that was taken of your paycheck as part of social security.

 thanx everyone for feedbacks.....its really helpful.....

 How do you get back Social Security and medicare taxes that were already taken on my paycheck?

It depends:  
If you are in F-1 for less than 5 years, you don't have to pay social security/medicare taxes.
BUT if you are in F-1 for more than 5 years, then you have to pay social security/medicare taxes on your grad (teaching or research) assistance stipend or your income in OPT. 

Yakku is right. F1 over five years will have to pay those taxes.

 no as long as you file 1040NR at the end of the year. remember, you should only file 1040NR. but we tend to file 1040A or 1040, you should be careful. 

 ok guys this is what happened....i talked to my employer, they had disscussion with their attorneys ...and i was notified that i have to pay FICA(medicare/social security) as i am here since 2006...