The translator: He helps international students decipher tax rules

When taxes are due, you can bet international students at UW-Green Bay get theirs done and in on time.

That’s because Prof. James Loebl volunteers his time to help students from faraway lands complete their tax forms as a part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

“These aren’t big dollar amounts, but the IRS makes it about as complex as you can for people who don’t speak English as a first language,” says Loebl, who is an accounting expert in the Business Administration program.

International students who receive scholarship dollars greater than the cost of tuition (for books, room and board) have to report the excess as taxable income. And those who work on or off campus on student visas have to report their earnings.

“I help them get back taxes they’re owed that have been withheld, and also make sure they’re in compliance with filing in the U.S.,” says Loebl, who assisted students from Sweden, Israel, India, Germany, South Africa, France, Haiti and Nigeria. “Not filing correctly could affect their visa status later if they’re trying to become a full-time resident or employee after graduation.”

The U.S. tax structure is daunting enough for Americans, Loebl says. It’s even more complex for international students, particularly since the tax systems in foreign lands are completely different. Many international students have never even filed tax returns before, he notes.

“Quite frankly, I’m finding the instructions are confusing,” says Loebl, who has been doing taxes with VITA for about 10 years. “To thrust international students into this, who have no familiarity with tax language or statutory language, it’s difficult.

“Many have said they tried to read and figure it out, but the 20-page instruction booklet for 1040EZ is anything but ‘easy.’ They do find it pretty overwhelming, as do a lot of American taxpayers.”

Loebl hopes to use what he learned this year to train UW-Green Bay student VITA volunteers so they can help fellow international students next year.

Each year, students involved with VITA provide free income tax assistance for low-income individuals and families, the elderly and students. UW-Green Bay students have been providing the service for nearly 35 years.