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In the past, many illegal immigrants filed taxes to get refunds. This year, many tax preparers are reporting a large decrease in illegal immigrants using their
by ig9allo 9y ago
In the past, many illegal immigrants filed taxes to get refunds. This year, many tax preparers are reporting a large decrease in illegal immigrants using their services, because of fear that the information would be shared with the federal government.
http://www.npr.org/2017/04/17/523634144/tax-filings-seen-dipping-amid-trump-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration http://www.npr.org/2017/04/17/523634144/tax-filings-seen-dip...
- ThisIsUnfair 9y agoI don't know about illegal immigrants but there used to be a thriving business for scammers and fraudsters. These days you're asked to go to one of the identity verification offices of the IRS with a state issued id and social security card. This applies to previously flagged accounts, audited filings etc. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/11/tax-refund-fraud-to-hit-21-billion-and-theres-little-the-irs-can-do.html http://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/11/tax-refund-fraud-to-hit-21-bi...
- downandout 9y agoI seriously doubt this could account for a 5% drop in filings. Also, the primary reason that illegal immigrants file tax returns is to obtain refunds. Yet the total dollar amount of refunds disbursed actually increased this year despite the large drop in filings. If the drop in filings were immigration related, a similar drop in overall refunds would have been the likely result.
- findateamfirst 9y agoWhy not? 4.5 million people without SSNS filed last year. http://www.npr.org/2017/04/17/523634144/tax-filings-seen-dipping-amid-trump-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration http://www.npr.org/2017/04/17/523634144/tax-filings-seen-dip...
- mbroshi 9y agoThe drop in returns received was 6 million.
- iaw 9y ago> Also, the primary reason that illegal immigrants file tax returns is to obtain refunds. Could you source this statement? I haven't seen anything besides speculation about this subject.
- metaphor 9y agoIf a US citizen whose income exceeds a defined (low) threshold must file an annual tax return by law, then what other sensible reason would there be for an illegal immigrant to do the same if the primary compliance tracking mechanism is a SSN?
- nbcesar 9y agoOne important reason is to qualify for financial aid at private colleges and universities. I have worked with undocumented parents of documented students applying to really competitive colleges. Some of these colleges will meet their financial need even if their parents are undocumented so these parents file their taxes, often owing taxes, to demonstrate their income.
- metaphor 9y agoMakes sense. Thanks for pointing that out.
- iaw 9y agoCould you provide a source for your speculation?
- metaphor 9y agoPrecisely what part was speculative?
- metaphor 9y agoI wasn't aware that it was even possible to file a tax return without a valid SSN...then again, I've never manually filled out a 1040 either. How would an illegal immigrant without a valid SSN file a tax return? EDIT: Disregard...from the parent's link article: Many of these people use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, or ITINs.
- lloydde 9y agoThe IRS also wants its cut of your drug slinging and theft. http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/28/news/economy/illegal-income-tax/ http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/28/news/economy/illegal-income-...
- RightMillennial 9y agoHow could an illegal alien even get an ITIN? Wouldn't being in the country legally be a prerequisite? Or are forged documents used?