StuTax

Streamlining tax filing process for international students in the US

Project Details

An innovative solution for international students to guide them through the complex US tax forms with a document checklist, support from university financial experts, and resources for financial literacy.

Client

Sector

Prompt

How can we improve financial literacy

among international students ?

How can we improve financial literacy among international students ?

Background Research

The background research among students unfolded that 62% of international students are unprepared to file their taxes and 24% are unaware of the banking system differences, suggesting a need for simplified tax filing and improved financial literacy.

Many students are unaware of their tax obligations, including which forms to fill out and the deadlines for submission

U.S. tax forms contain jargon and require detailed information that may be unfamiliar to international students

Students are unaware of exemptions and credits because they are unfamiliar with U.S. and home country tax treaties.

Current Tax software's may not cater to the specific needs of international students for tax preparation

User Interviews

Our team conducted 16 interviews with students from 16 universities, finding recurring themes of lack of awareness, concern about tax system, and resource scarcity, University-hosted with webinars falling short and navigation through current tools was quite difficult.

" I managed my first tax return with software, faced challenges but succeeded. A better understanding of the tax system would've helped ."

" I was not aware that there are specific deadlines for submitting the tax documents, I didn’t get any returns ."

"I consistently feel disoriented during tax filing, often forgetting the process, required documents and needing to relearn and comprehend it each time."

" I'm always confused on how many forms I need to fill and where I need to find them - Every year is a new year to me ."

Secondary Research

Our secondary research revealed that US international students face financial and cultural challenges as a result of inadequate resources for personalized financial guidance and a lack of understanding of the intricate US financial system.

One study found over 60% of international students reported the tax filing process as “difficult” or “very difficult”

Internationalstudent.com

One study found over 60% of international students reported the tax filing process as “difficult” or “very difficult”

Internationalstudent.com

Lack of financial literacy is a significant problem for international students

JWU Scholars archive

Lack of financial literacy is a significant problem for international students

JWU Scholars archive

Association of International Educators found that 54% of international students reported needing more information on US tax filing."

2018 NAFSA survey

Association of International Educators found that 54% of international students reported needing more information on US tax filing."

2018 NAFSA survey

52% of international students reported feeling unprepared to file US taxes, highlighting a knowledge gap.

2021 NAFSA survey

52% of international students reported feeling unprepared to file US taxes, highlighting a knowledge gap.

2021 NAFSA survey

over

60%

of international students reported the tax filing process as difficult.

over

60%

of international students reported the tax filing process as difficult.

over

54%

of international students reported needing more information on US tax filing.

over

54%

of international students reported needing more information on US tax filing.

Competitive Analysis

We conducted a thorough market analysis of existing platforms and identified the pain points

Affinity Mapping

View

Persona

Design Direction

How might we make tax filing more

accessible and understandable

for international students?

How might we make tax filing more

accessible and understandable

for international students?

How might we make tax filing more accessible and understandable for international students?

Prototype

Style Guide

Hi-Fi Prototype

Evaluation

To ensure optimal usability for international students, a user experience evaluation was conducted. Focusing on the three main features of the StuTax app based on NNG's criteria.

1. Navigation: 4.5

2. Clarity: 5

3. Responsiveness: 4.5

4. Accessibility: 5

Insights

The StuTax project was a valuable learning experience. It highlighted the importance of understanding user needs, i.e., the challenges international students face with U.S. taxes. It emphasized the power of design thinking in crafting helpful solutions, like the checklist and expert access. The project reinforced the importance of user-centered design and ongoing adaptation to ensure a smooth experience. Overall, StuTax underscored the value of clear communication, user empowerment, and staying up-to-date in a complex field.

Thankyou!

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