University of Wisconsin–Madison

International Payroll and Tax Filing Resources

Who Needs a Glacier Account?

All foreign national employees being paid or receiving funds through UW-Madison payroll must create and maintain a Glacier individual record for payroll and taxation purposes. This includes Resident Aliens and Nonresident Aliens.

A foreign national employee is any non U.S. citizen on payroll, regardless of tax status.

How Do I Get a Glacier Account?

Your Glacier account should be automatically created for you. You will receive two instructive emails, one from support@online-tax.net (Glacier) and one from uwhradministration@ohr.wisc.edu (UW Administration). Read the emails carefully and follow instructions to create and update your individual record. Be sure to check your junk mail folder for the emails.

If you do not receive your Glacier emails 5 days before your appointment starts, confirm with your department that your paid appointment has been entered in the system. If your appointment is in the system and you have not received your Glacier emails yet, send an email to glacier@ohr.wisc.edu and request an account.

What is the Deadline for Completing My Glacier Account?

The Glacier record should be completed, printed, and all documents submitted to 21 N. Park Street, Suite 5101 within 5 days of your paid appointment start date. We recommend you wait until you have arrived in Madison to complete the Glacier entry and deliver all materials.

Following your initial Glacier entry, you will need to submit all Glacier-generated reports and tax treaty forms, along with your immigration document photocopies, to the Office of Human Resources Payroll Services, located at 21 N. Park Street, Suite 5101.

We do not recommend emailing Glacier documents, as they contain sensitive data.

How to Obtain a Social Security Number (SSN)

Note: You will be paid on schedule without an SSN.

You must be in the U.S. for 30 days before you can apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).

  • Obtain an electronic copy of your appointment letter or offer of employment.
  • For student employment position: Request Social Security letter online from ISS website and receive a letter from the ISS Office addressed to the Social Security Administration stating that you are authorized to work on campus.
  • Go to the Social Security Administration Office, located at 6011 Odana Road to apply for your social security number. (Madison Metro bus Route 3 West to Tokay Blvd. & Odana Rd. Walk west approximately ¼ mile to reach the office.) Bring the following to complete the application:
    • Letter from the ISS Office for Student Help, or Appointment letter
    • Passport
    • I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
    • Form I-20/DS-2019 or document that applies to your visa type
  • Request an application receipt from the Social Security Administration Office.
  • Present the application receipt to Department Payroll Coordinator Human Resources office.
  • Receive your Social Security card in the mail approximately 2–3 weeks later.
  • Submit to Department Payroll Coordinator Human Resources Office to provide your SSN.

If you do not receive your Social Security card within the time indicated on your receipt, call the Social Security Administration Office to follow up at 866-770-2262 or 800-772-1213.

How to Obtain a Tax Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

Note: You will be paid on schedule without an ITIN.

Only apply for an ITIN if you do not already have a Social Security Number (SSN).

Only apply for an ITIN if your appointment is one of the following: Post-Doctoral Fellow (does not mean Research Associates) or Trainee; Graduate Intern/Trainee, Fellow, Scholar, Trainee or Advanced Opportunity Fellow.

To apply for an ITIN, go to Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and select “How do I apply for an ITIN”?

When Do I Need to Update My Glacier Account?

Employees must update Glacier with any changes to your status. This includes changes in visa type, extended immigration status, additional paid relationship types such as a fellowship with UW-Madison and new departure dates.

How can I terminate my Glacier account?

If you will not be employed by, receive income from, or be enrolled at the University of Wisconsin during the remainder of the current or following calendar year you should follow these steps:

  • Update the email and mailing addresses in your Glacier account and your permanent mailing address in your My UW portal under the Work Record tab in Personal Information. Coordinate with your department to update the email address in your My UW portal.
  • Make sure the immigration information in your Glacier account reflects the status and expiration date which applied WHILE YOU WERE receiving income through UW payroll system. Do not change your immigration status or end date. Do NOT include any status pertaining to U.S. presence after you left the UW. Do not change or remove your relationship or income information. Do not check ‘no payments’ even if you are no longer receiving income from the UW–Madison, this field is internal use only.
  • Update your final U.S. DEPARTURE date to reflect when you have/will depart and remain outside the U.S. for 365 days or more.
  • Contact your Glacier account administrator (glacier@ohr.wisc.edu) if you will not be enrolled at or in a payment relationship with the University of Wisconsin during the remainder of the current or next calendar year.

To Access Your Glacier Account

Log into your Glacier account at www.online-tax.net. If you do not remember your login or password, select LOGIN NOW then FORGOT LOGIN. When prompted for your email address, enter the one where this email was sent. Once in the system, you can change the email address associated with your Glacier account to a permanent address.

Terms

  • Foreign National
    An individual who is not a citizen of the US.
  • Glacier
    Tax compliance software for international individuals on UW Payroll, including resident aliens, permanent residents and nonresident aliens.
  • Immigration Documents
    In addition to the Visa, individuals working on campus will need the appropriate document according to their status to verify work eligibility e.g. F1 (I20), J1 (DS2019), H1B employee (I797), F2 or J2(EAD card) are examples of required immigration documents for internationals on payroll.
  • International
    An individual who is not a US Citizen.
  • Payroll
    This is the payment system for the majority of students and employees of UW Madison.
  • Visa
    An endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country but does not grant work eligibility.

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