Real-world investment in student interns, returns unlimited possibilities

Small but mighty, the Tax Office is the unit of the Controller’s Office that handles all things tax related for the University. This three-person team works on tax compliance, serves as a resource to the University community on tax issues, ensures timely and accurate filing of institutional tax returns, consults with departments on employee and independent contractor determinations, and develops necessary procedures and reporting systems to ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations.

Tax Office staff also advise international students and scholars on tax treaty benefits, tax withholding and reporting requirements, and provide guidance to departments regarding payments to vendors and employees from other countries.

This is where Taleaha Barr comes in. Barr is a student intern who joined the Tax Office staff in August, right at the start of the academic year. The new year brings an influx of new hires, student workers, researchers and professors, many of whom are part of our foreign national population. Over the last few months, she played a vital role in the Tax Office helping over 300 foreign national employees with their employment paperwork and over 140 foreign nationals elect treaty benefits. Barr has also hosted several presentations and one-on-one counseling sessions, and she continues to help students by answering questions as they arise.

Taxes and tax issues are complex and can be frustrating unless it is something you are used to working with every day. “Taleaha is always calm and kind when communicating these complexities. She is able to effectively explain what taxes the University withholds from our employees’ paychecks and why, “ said Lisa Hall, tax accountant and Barr’s supervisor.

Taleaha Barr shows Lisa Hall (seated) her progress on the payroll project she has been working on.

To help foreign national undergraduate and graduate students understand their employment tax withholding, Barr created an easy-to-use template within Excel. The student then enters his or her gross income, and the tables calculate withholding for both federal income and North Carolina state income tax. The template also explains what federal taxes include, a student’s income before tax, and the definition of withholding allowances.

Barr is the third student intern who has worked in the Tax Office under Hall over the last three years. The Tax Office participates in the University Professional Internship Program (UPIP), which provides undergraduate students academically-relevant, real-world work experiences. A rising senior accounting major with plans to eventually work at a major accounting firm, Barr was looking for an internship in her field that was also convenient and close to campus. The Tax Office internship seemed like a perfect fit. “I thought this would be a good way to get my foot in the door and add valuable experience to my resume,” said Barr.

The University Career Center partners with UNC Charlotte departments and offices, like the Tax Office, to offer paid internship opportunities through the UPIP peerogram. These sponsoring departments and offices make sure each internship is specifically designed to meet the educational goals of the student.

Hall aims to provide a well-rounded experience for her interns in the Tax Office. While she tailors projects suited toward what the individual is most interested in, Hall also makes sure students are able to work in other other areas as well, such as audit, compliance, taxes, and reporting. While there is no typical day in the Tax Office, Barr takes on tasks such as reviewing payments made by the University for tax withholding and reporting requirements and processing scholarship payment paperwork for foreign nationals, while working on some longer-term projects. Currently, Barr is working on a project to analyze potential sales tax exemptions in different states.

Barr believes her time in the Tax Office will help her greatly with her career because she has had the opportunity to grow her skills in many ways. She has grasped the basics of taxes and regulations and improved her communication and time-management skills, making her more marketable. According to Barr, one of the most rewarding parts of this experience so far has been taking part in a mock interview with PricewaterhouseCoopers. “They really value diversity, so my work with foreign national employees really helped me stand out,” said Barr.

The UPIP program has not only been valuable to students, but also to the Tax Office team as a whole. “Our experience working with students has been extremely beneficial to our department. Talking to young people who are passionate about tax and accounting is always a pleasure. We have been very lucky to have wonderful interns who are inquisitive and conscientious,” said Hall.

If your office or department is interested in participating in the UPIP program, visit the the UPIP Program’s page on University Career Center’s website.

Story: Caitlin Mauk
Photography: NiCole Lynch