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What if their parents were among the lower 47%, and so did not pay taxes into the system?

jacobolus 11y ago
They absolutely do pay taxes: especially payroll taxes, but also income taxes are withheld from their salaries just like everyone else (often under fake SSN). Or if they’re being paid in cash under the table, as sometimes happens for both undocumented immigrants and for immigrants with visas or permanent residents, that’s 100% the responsibility of the employer. Indeed, undocumented workers often end up paying more tax than they would if they had authentic papers, because they’re less likely to file for tax rebates at the end of the year. They also pay sales tax, if they’re paying rent are ultimately contributing to property taxes paid by the landlord, etc. etc. If you want to see some data about this w/r/t state and local taxes, here’s a recent summary: http://www.itep.org/immigration/ http://www.itep.org/immigration/
- stephengillie 11y ago
  I didn't mean undocumented immigrants, but you make a great point that they're overpaying taxes, but are receiving only minimal services. And people look down on them as though they're a burden. Documented workers who earn below a certain level have the entirety of their income tax deductions returned to them by the IRS. This happened during my first few years of working. Workers who earn an exceptionally low amount, and have additional dependents or are paying college tuition, can earn additional tax credits, such as EIC or Hope. In this way, many working households benefit from welfare and have someone working and/or going to school.
dragonwriter 11y ago
> What if their parents were among the lower 47%, and so did not pay taxes into the system? The famous Romney 47% was based on an analysis of net federal income taxes, which is completely irrelevant to whether they've paid into California's general fund taxes (which include, primarily, California's state income tax and California's sales and use taxes.) And even less relevant to whether they've generally established roots in the State such that it is in the State's interest to serve them as part of its constituency.

They absolutely do pay taxes: especially payroll taxes, but also income taxes are withheld from their salaries just like everyone else (often under fake SSN). Or if they’re being paid in cash under the table, as sometimes happens for both undocumented immigrants and for immigrants with visas or permanent residents, that’s 100% the responsibility of the employer. Indeed, undocumented workers often end up paying more tax than they would if they had authentic papers, because they’re less likely to file for tax rebates at the end of the year. They also pay sales tax, if they’re paying rent are ultimately contributing to property taxes paid by the landlord, etc. etc. If you want to see some data about this w/r/t state and local taxes, here’s a recent summary: http://www.itep.org/immigration/ http://www.itep.org/immigration/

stephengillie 11y ago
I didn't mean undocumented immigrants, but you make a great point that they're overpaying taxes, but are receiving only minimal services. And people look down on them as though they're a burden. Documented workers who earn below a certain level have the entirety of their income tax deductions returned to them by the IRS. This happened during my first few years of working. Workers who earn an exceptionally low amount, and have additional dependents or are paying college tuition, can earn additional tax credits, such as EIC or Hope. In this way, many working households benefit from welfare and have someone working and/or going to school.

dragonwriter 11y ago

> What if their parents were among the lower 47%, and so did not pay taxes into the system? The famous Romney 47% was based on an analysis of net federal income taxes, which is completely irrelevant to whether they've paid into California's general fund taxes (which include, primarily, California's state income tax and California's sales and use taxes.) And even less relevant to whether they've generally established roots in the State such that it is in the State's interest to serve them as part of its constituency.