This is so much bull. I see these kinds of posts are increasing. While I see Tammy's explanation as to how 'big' companies are getting away by bullying employees on an H1B, I cannot imagine management of any profitable co wanting to do business here in the US be so short-sighted, and risk all kinds of suits for a few hundred $s. All it will take for this whole scheme to fall apart will be one employee, not dependant on the employer (read, no H1B, L1, etc) to be treated this way and the whole game will be over. And if non-visa employees are being treated differently, then besides the IRS, the EEOC will probably be all over this also. Read good-bye doing business in the US of A for the co(s?) in question.
An employer is required by law, to provide an EE a W2 (I quote from the iRS website: "Tax Tip 2004-23, Feb. 4, 2004
You should receive a Form W-2, “Wage and Tax Statement,” from each employer you worked for to use in preparing your federal tax return. Employers
must furnish this record of 2003 earnings and withheld taxes no later than Feb. 2, 2004 (if mailed, allow a few days for delivery)."
Once you have your W2, I don't see any place where an employer comes into the picture - you file your 1040, and that's it. Your employer cannot claim a need to see your 1040 - you can have deductions on it, that they cannot claim they have a right to know about. Thus, the employer should have no ideas about refunds, if any. What's next? If this guy buys a house and reduces his tax liabilities due to the interest on the mortgage, his company can say that the money belongs to them? You get the idea....
Additionally, Tammy2, if your friend did bring his family over and his company is going to act this way(and he's not going to do anything about it), I would recommend that he also play hardball. On the 1040, he should reduce his standard deduction by filing either as single, or married, filing separately, and not take any child tax credit. That way his employer won't be getting any (or much) money back.
K