Surrounded by income tax forms and instruction manuals, Satoru Ukai carefully debated how to fill out the paperwork. With an exasperated expression on his face, Ukai looked as though he had just about given up on completing the
applications.
The hardest part of doing his taxes, Ukai said, is that he is unfamiliar with some of the English expressions used on the forms.
“The math is not so difficult,” said Ukai, who came to the United States from Tokyo in 1996. ” just want to make sure that everything is right. This is my first time. It is so confusing.”
Ukai is just one of more than 1,600 international students currently attending the University. And for many students like Ukai, April 16 — the deadline for filing year 2000 income tax returns — brings frustration, anxiety and confusion.
For a little help during the tax process, Ukai, a junior computer and information science major, attended one of the tax preparation workshops that the Office of International Education and Exchange offered.
At the orientation Wednesday, Ukai received instruction about what parts of the form he needed to fill out. He said the assistance made the process a little easier, but it didn^Òt completely eliminate his confusion.
“Next year, I’m hoping it will be easier than this year,”Ukai said.
Ginny Stark, the associate director for OIEE who is coordinating workshops and offering tax preparation help for international students, said students from other countries typically have not had to do their taxes at home. She said
that in some countries, deductions are automatically taken away from a person’s earnings.
But in the United States, individuals who earn income are responsible for filing tax returns.
“On their first paycheck, some students are shocked to see state and federal tax deductions,” Stark said. “For international students, from countries with tax treaties with the United States, there are still some forms to file and there is a lot of uncertainty about what to do.”
Stark said most students who have been in the United States for more than five years on a student visa are treated as residents for tax purposes. She said international students who have earned income or scholarships usually have to
file a tax return with the federal government — and possibly the state government as well.
“They are complicated, particularly if you haven’t done it,” Stark said.
She advised students to make photocopies of the forms before sending them off, so when tax day rolls around next year, they will have examples for reference.
Stark said U.S. residents have an advantage because they can take certain deductions that international students cannot. For example, unless a student is from Canada, Mexico, Japan or South Korea, he or she cannot receive deductions for family members. International students also cannot mark medical expenses as deductions, she added.
To alleviate the anxiety associated with taxes, international students should come to workshops with all their financial documents from the year 2000, along with a W-2 form, a 1042S form, scholarship or treaty benefits, a calculator,
pencil, and visa or passport documents.
Stark also said people who think they might have to file their taxes should find out for sure. There can be financial penalties if someone who owes taxes does not file.
International students are not the only ones who can find help this weekend when wrestling with their tax forms.
Scott Rawitscher, a senior accounting major and member of Beta Alpha Psi, is co-coordinating a tax preparation workshop April 14 for resident taxpayers. He said the workshop, which is primarily available for students, will offer free
“e-filing” of tax forms using a program called Tax Wise, as well as assistance from trained accounting majors and Internal Revenue Service agents.
Rawitscher recommended that students show up early Saturday — the 14 student volunteers from the accounting fraternity will have their hands full with questions and concerns.
Rawitscher also said that for students who don’t have the time or patience to do their taxes, the workshop is the solution.
“We actually do it for them,” Rawitscher said.