Dissertation
A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of international students navigating the United States Internal Revenue Service
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000594
Abstract
Education transcends borders in a global society where students in every country have the option and opportunity to travel vast distances to seek an undergraduate degree. Institutions of higher education throughout United States have been the leading destination of choice for more than 400,000 international students seeking undergraduate degrees. Many universities seek out international students as an enrollment management strategy to increase tuition revenue. Current trends suggest more international students are coming to the U.S. from middle class families. Middle-class students are more likely to work on campus and/or secure scholarships that may be subject to tax withholding by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS), requiring them to learn and navigate a foreign tax system. Navigating a foreign tax system and government agency can be a challenging adjustment international students encounter. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the experiences international students had navigating the IRS to better understand their experiences and student support needs. The six participants of this study received athletic scholarships that afforded them the means to attend a university in the United States. The participants were unaware of any tax obligations from scholarship income they received. Each international student had to learn and navigate a foreign tax system. They found the IRS confusing and difficult to navigate. Each participant relied on the assistance of others to assist them. Their shared experiences highlighted the student support needs of international students who receive any form of taxable income when navigating the IRS as undergraduate students attending institutions of higher education in the United States
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Details
- Title
- A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of international students navigating the United States Internal Revenue Service
- Creators
- Cindy H. Rote
- Contributors
- John M. Gould (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 141 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015684243804721