Illegal Immigrants

[Mr.wizard]

That is not the conclusion, about half of illegal immigrants file tax returns but the numbers are skewed because the majority of illegal immigrants don't have access to jobs that pay them on the books and there is a risk for illegal immigrants to file tax returns, it creates a paper trail and could lead to deportation. Also the illegal immigrants that do file income tax do not have access to the tax credit, Social Security, and Medicare.

So the reason that illegal immigrants don't file tax returns is because they are breaking the law...again.  It is illegal to work "off the books."  Even I, as an American citizen, am not allowed to work off the books.  Besides the point that is not an excuse to not pay taxes.  Illegal immigrants pay taxes by filing for an Individual Tax Identification Number, which requires basic info to receive.  They can then use that number in lieu of a Social Security number.  From there, if an illegal immigrant wishes to do so there are numerous ways they can pay their taxes, probably the best way being to fill out Form 4852 instead of having a W2 and send it with their form 1040.  There is also no risk for illegal immigrants to file tax returns, there are strict federal privacy laws that revolve around an individuals tax info.  The IRS and the SSA cannot share that info with law enforcement agencies.

I've said it twice now as well and have provided sources for them, so if you choose to dispute please provide your own sources:

1. I am well aware that illegal immigrants DO NOT have access to Social Security or Medicare, I have never disputed that.
   
2. Illegal Immigrants DO receive the Child Tax Credit as well as emergency Medicaid (for emergency services).
   

I will leave you with this source from from the Treasury Department that is literally titled, Individuals Who Are Not Authorized to Work in the United States Were Paid $4.2 Billion in Refundable Credits."

1. I didn't say you weren't aware that illegal immigrants don't get social security, that wasn't the reason I brought it up. 
2. I never mentioned the Child Tax Credit, the tax credit I was referring to was the Income Tax Credit.

The point is we want them to pay taxes like citizens but we don't want them to have access to a lot of the benefits.

Also it doesn't matter if there is a law the prohibits the IRS from sharing data with law enforcement, it is still effecting the number of immigrants who file their taxes. They do not want a paper trail in the current climate, it's not like the law couldn't change with the stroke of a pen. 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/201...story.html