What is GLACIER?

GLACIER is an online tax compliance system designed to allow institutions to efficiently and effectively collect information, make tax residency and income tax treaty determinations, manage paperwork, maintain data, and file reporting statements with the IRS.

How Do I Get Assistance?

UW System has consolidated the administration of GLACIER accounts. This means that our UW-Shared Services, located in Madison, WI, is now your point of contact for any questions relating to your account. You may contact them at their phone numbers or email listed below. You may also receive email communications from your GLACIER international administrator and may contact them directly that way as well.

UW-Shared Services
Phone: (608) 262-0600 or (888) 298-0141
Email: serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu

Who needs a GLACIER account?

All foreign national employees being paid or receiving funds through UWM 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.

What is the deadline for completing my GLACIER account?

The GLACIER record should be completed and all documents delivered to 2033 E. Hartford Ave within 5 days of your account creation date. We recommend you wait until you have arrived in Milwaukee to complete the GLACIER entry and deliver all materials.

Following your initial GLACIER entry, you will need to deliver all GLACIER-generated reports and tax treaty forms, along with your immigration document photocopies, to the Department of Human Resources.

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

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 the Human Resources 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 include any status pertaining to U.S. presence after you left the UW.
• 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 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.
• Provide your GLACIER account administrator with a summary of all dates you will be in the U.S. during the current calendar year. Include presence for travel, attendance at another school, work for another employer, etc.

Holds on your GLACIER account

Hold 1: The SSN or ITIN is missing

• Once it is received, you should add it to your GLACIER account and a new packet should be submitted to HR.
• Scholarships cannot be paid without a tax identification number or confirmation of application.

Hold 2: Country or Tax Residence differs from Country of Residence or Citizenship

• Treaty cannot be granted.

Hold 3: Immigration status has changed during the current visit to the U.S.

• Treaty cannot be granted. Foreign nationals must leave the U.S. and remain out of the country for a full calendar year, or greater, between VISA changes to qualify for any potential treaty.

Hold 4: Immigration status is not sponsored by the client institution

• Unless on OPT, a foreign national with an immigration status not sponsored by UW System may not work at or receive income from UWM.