5 ms·

> More precisely it is taxation by citizenship, not residence. Both. Non-citizens (inc. illegal immigrants) are required to pay US taxes just for residing in t

> More precisely it is taxation by citizenship, not residence. Both. Non-citizens (inc. illegal immigrants) are required to pay US taxes just for residing in the United States. The US will actually give non-citizens a unique tax ID (TIN) for this express purpose. So the US will tax both based on residential status AND citizenship status.

seanmcdirmid 9y ago
You can also get an ITIN for non resident aliens, as I found out when I married my wife abroad and needed to put her on my taxes so I could "married filing jointly" and not get screwed on taxes. In at case, the US is effectively taxing a non-resident non-citizen, which is another level of bizarre (but the foreign tax deduction makes it OK in the end).
tormeh 9y ago
To paraphrase: "Illegal immigrants to the US are required to pay US taxes" That's... Slightly insane?
- marcoperaza 9y ago
  You are also required to pay taxes on profits from illegal activity. Breaking one law doesn't exempt you from following another.
  - tormeh 9y ago
    Well, if an illegal immigrant files taxes, then they're registered in the system and will be thrown out, right? If you're illegally in a country you presumably have to stay hidden in order to not be thrown out, and if you pay taxes you're not hidden anymore.
    - marcoperaza 9y ago
      Yes, and you can make the same argument about having to pay taxes on illegal activity and it basically being self-incrimination, an actual constitution right (which staying here illegally is not). The courts have considered the argument and they don't agree. They don't really deport people that way, though. It could certainly happen in the future, but currently they're focusing on criminals and suspected gang members for deportation.
    - jwhitlark 9y ago
      No. The There are laws against the IRS reporting illegal income to other agencies. If you pay your taxes, the IRS has no problem with you, and any violation you have with another agency is not their problem.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]

seanmcdirmid 9y ago

You can also get an ITIN for non resident aliens, as I found out when I married my wife abroad and needed to put her on my taxes so I could "married filing jointly" and not get screwed on taxes. In at case, the US is effectively taxing a non-resident non-citizen, which is another level of bizarre (but the foreign tax deduction makes it OK in the end).

tormeh 9y ago

To paraphrase: "Illegal immigrants to the US are required to pay US taxes" That's... Slightly insane?

marcoperaza 9y ago
You are also required to pay taxes on profits from illegal activity. Breaking one law doesn't exempt you from following another.
- tormeh 9y ago
  Well, if an illegal immigrant files taxes, then they're registered in the system and will be thrown out, right? If you're illegally in a country you presumably have to stay hidden in order to not be thrown out, and if you pay taxes you're not hidden anymore.
  - marcoperaza 9y ago
    Yes, and you can make the same argument about having to pay taxes on illegal activity and it basically being self-incrimination, an actual constitution right (which staying here illegally is not). The courts have considered the argument and they don't agree. They don't really deport people that way, though. It could certainly happen in the future, but currently they're focusing on criminals and suspected gang members for deportation.
  - jwhitlark 9y ago
    No. The There are laws against the IRS reporting illegal income to other agencies. If you pay your taxes, the IRS has no problem with you, and any violation you have with another agency is not their problem.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]