- President James Madison
Paying Taxes
We updated the top story today because there is a myth out there that needs to be ended (view story), immigrants both legal and illegal pay taxes. Anti-immigrant groups always make a point of saying that immigrants cost tax payers money, but what their rhetoric neglects to mention is that these immigrants are paying into the system; they are contributing to building a strong and vibrant economy.
What we're seeing this year is a rise in filings. Much of this is due to the prospects of comprehensive immigration reform passing. Their motivation for paying taxes is an appreciation for America, a desire to work within the system, become citizens, and assimilate into American society. Together, we can make it clear to Congress that immigrants are not here to take our jobs; they are here to be a part of the American Dream - SPEAK OUT: Tell Your representatives in Washington why we need reform.
-Drew
Posted on Monday, April 16 | Permalink
6 Comments
So you want illegals to pay Taxes ?
Well, let us look at the issue.
If illegal aliens do not pay Income Tax then we say they are BAD people.
Many illegal aliens do not have a Social Security Number so if they try to pay taxes or file an Income Tax Return - you know what happens?
The Social Security Department (SSD) is unable to credit their accounts because these people do not exist in the SSD records!
That leads to SSD issuing a “No-Match” letter, which can eventually result in the alien being deported.
Why would an illegal alien do something (like pay taxes) if it will eventually get him deported?
Representative James Sensenbrenner got the Driving License Bill through the House, but has anyone seen a mass exit of people who could not get driving licenses due to new regulations?
The answer is NO ! So that means there are probably a lot of unlicensed drivers on the streets now.Many illegal aliens have families with children - they have to go to work and different places just like the rest of us.
They do have cars so if they cannot get a driving license, the Senators have given them NO CHOICE, BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSES.
The Senators are busy fixing the SYMPTOMS of the problem rather than fixing the PROBLEM!
Just to Clarify what might be a misconception about the requirements of having a Social Security Number to file tax returns, as the article states:
the Internal Revenue Service allows them to file taxes by assigning applicants individual taxpayer identification numbers. The numbers were introduced in 1996 to encourage noncitizens with United States income, including foreign investors, to file returns. It is generally accepted that most of the 11 million numbers issued since then have gone to illegal immigrants.
The I.R.S., which does not ask about immigration status, is barred from divulging taxpayer information, with very limited exceptions, to other agencies, like the Department of Homeland Security.
Thank you for the input Drew.
The following Statement was released by the General Accounting Office (GAO)on March 10, 2004 and it can be found at this website:
http://www.gao.gov/htext/d04529t.html
“IRS has concluded that most resident aliens who have ITINs and earn wage income are not legally employed in the United States.
And this is from the NPR Morning Edition, April 17, 2007. “It appears that many illegal immigrants are trying to get right with the IRS. The number of filers using ID numbers instead of Social Security numbers jumped between 2004 and 2005. It’s assumed that most filers who use “I-10” numbers are undocumented workers”.
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9615621&ft=1&f=1006)
If most filers using “I-10” numbers (ITIN -Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) are assumed to be undocumented workers, (and as you say - most of the 11 million numbers issued have gone to illegals) then IRS needs to pass that list onto USCIS - I am sure there are addresses on each one of those Tax Returns. Unless most of the addresses are incorrect, we know where the illegals live!!!
Let us be serious folks - there are estimated to be around 12 to 13 million illegals and out of those we know where about 11 million live.
SO why do we say we don’t know who these illegals are?
The fellow who suggested that the IRS turn over all tax returns filed with ITINs to the IRS fails to take the following into account:
1. IRS is legally prohibited from sharing information on tax returns with other government agencies. This policy protects the privacy of all of us including over 200 million U.S. citizens.
2. We are running the biggest deficit in the U.S. history. Therefore, it is important that everyone pay their taxes. If those who use ITINs become afraid to pay their taxes, the taxes of the rest of us, like Kiran and myself, will have to be raised.
3. Using tax returns is an ineffective and unwise method to enforce our immigration laws. Once people start to get arrested for using ITINs (Are all ITIN users illegally in the U.S.?), people with ITINs will (a) stop paying their income taxes, and (b) change their addresses.
(4) Let’s support legislation to help ITIN taxpayers obtain legal work cards. The “enforcement-only” approach is doomed to failure.
Carl Shusterman
Former INS Prosecutor
It is my understanding that since about 2005 it is harder for illegal immigrants to get an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number). Anyone applying for an ITIN must use the Form W-7 (revised January 2007). For more information on an ITIN go to the following website, http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html
Below is a list of acceptable proofs of identy(from the website), which most illegals probably do not have: What documents are acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status?
IRS has streamlined the number of documents the agency will accept as proof of identity to obtain an ITIN. There are now 13 acceptable documents.
An original, or a certified or notarized copy, of an UNEXPIRED passport is the only document that is accepted for both identity and foreign status. If you do not have a passport, you must provide a combination of current documents that contain expiration dates - we accept docs issued within 12 months of the application if no expiration date is normally available. The documents must also show your name and photograph, and support your claim of foreign status.
IRS will accept certified or notarized copies of a combination (two or more) of the following documents, in lieu of a passport:
• National identification card (must show photo, name, current address, date of birth, and expiration date)
• U.S. driver’s license
• Civil birth certificate
• Foreign driver’s license
• U.S. state identification card
• Foreign voter’s registration card
• U.S. military identification card
• Foreign military identification card
• Visa
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) photo identification
• Medical records (dependents - under 14 years old - only)
• School records (dependents and/or students - under 25 years old - only)
Most of the immigrants I have or have had contact with either already pay taxes with an ITIN received before 2005, or want to be able to pay taxes, but do not know how or are afraid to.
We need a comprehensive immigration reform to be past. The monies received through fines (for illegal entry) and paying back taxes could go toward the U.S. deficit.
I have some questions… Maybe someone can help me with. If illegal immigrants filed a tax return, wouldn’t most of them be due a refund? Why do people say they do not pay taxes? Aren’t taxes being withheld from their paychecks; do they not pay taxes when purchasing food, medicine, cigarettes, and stereos, whatever…? Why is everyone so worried about the aliens paying taxes? I believe if an immigration reform is finally made, yes [they] should have to pay back taxes, along with fines. However, what about American that aren’t “paying”? I can name at least 6 Americans off the top of my head that “haven’t paid their taxes” in years, if ever. Why doesn’t the IRS crack down on those people? Surely, they could pull some kind of data to see that “certain people” stopped filing returns after filing before. Huh? These are probably the same people that moan about the President, the Government, and the laws and don’t vote. The same people that want everything their way, but don’t get up and do anything to try to get things changed. Okay, sorry went off on a tangent. I just need someone to clarify for me how this tax thing works or is suppose to work, if aliens file taxes. I know how it works for me… I file each year as I have done since I began working… in all these years I had to pay in twice and that was because the accounting/payroll department of the company I worked for had my information all messed up… thank goodness for CPA’s-mine anyway.