Undocumented immigrants paid almost $100 billion of taxes, underscoring the importance of border policies on the country’s tax collections, according to a new report.
One of the most common arguments for curtailing immigration is the cost borne by the US government. But undocumented immigrants pay more than a quarter, about 26%, of their income in taxes, in line with the median taxpayer, according to a report released Tuesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning think tank.
In total, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion, or roughly $9,000 per person, in taxes in 2022, the report shows. While their incomes are usually lower, they’re less likely to claim refunds or earn tax-preferred income.
About one third of the total dollars collected from undocumented immigrants funded programs they’re mostly barred from using, including $26 billion to Social Security and $6 billion to Medicare, the report said.
They also restore run down areas of the city, start small businesses that hire local, support their community and help future immigrants, bring culture and part of what makes America great.
That’s why the right hate them so much.
I’d love to see a breakdown of all the business owners who hire “illegals”. And the jobs these demonized illegals are “taking away”.
No taxation without representation
Amen.
All the conservatives crying about the boarder is nothing more than bigoted value signaling and only exist to tell brown immigrants they are second class citizens.
And if Billionares were taxed like normal people that would easily cover all the illegals
I’ve never understood this pushback against immigration. It seems to me that the bottom line is this: big countries are more powerful than small countries.
That’s why China makes people genuinely worried, but the Philippines (which has a government that’s just as scary) doesn’t really seem to concern people. But to return to my point, big countries are more powerful and “big” in this context is really a measure of economy. And one major driver of economy is population. The more people we have, the more productive we are, and the more powerful we are. If you truly want to make America great, invite everyone in, give them the means to get started and let the country reap all the lasting benefits.
If you’re not willing to help America grow, then I’ve got news for you, you aren’t making America great at all, you’re restricting it, you’re sealing it in a box and limiting its growth. You’re the problem.
Ironically, I think America’s “growth” should come from a scaling back of our imperialist tendencies to focus more time, energy and resources here at home. But this has nothing to do with immigration. Well actually, scaling back military operations might afford us the ability to properly take in all the immigrants that are coming here. It might give us the resources to take everyone in, take care of them for a short time until they’re independent.
I just wish we treated them properly. We have entire industries being propped up by the low wages they’re allowed to pay their workers; because they’re ’illegal immigrants’. It’s bullshit and that quasi-slavery needs to end.
Racism and xenophobia
I started watching this 1950s TV series called The Fugitive that was on some cable channel 10 or so years back. (The movie was based on the series.) There was an episode (in the 1950s) about illegal immigrants, and how they are needed to pick crops, and California is on fire and they need firefighters for a big wildfire. At the time, I just went to myself, “well, these problems have existed for a long time.” Obviously climate change has added a shit twist to the fire part, but how much string-pulling has politics dragged us on forever with alleged problems they never solve so they can keep their votes and power?
Archive link to the article.
So…more than most corporations, eh? Looks like one contributes to society while the other just takes…
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How do undocumented immigrants pay taxes without getting deported?
Sales tax mostly I would assume.
At the state and local levels, slightly less than half (46 percent, or $15.1 billion) of the tax payments made by undocumented immigrants are through sales and excise taxes levied on their purchases. Most other payments are made through property taxes, such as those levied on homeowners and renters (31 percent, or $10.4 billion), or through personal and business income taxes (21 percent, or $7.0 billion).
Ah, thanks
You use an ITIN and pay taxes. It’s the law that you need to pay taxes whether you’re here legally or not, which means we specifically create pathways for people who are here illegally to pay their fair share. Illegal immigrants pay taxes as one of the ways of building social credit for when they can naturalize.
This I heard before, but don’t understand. If they send in their itin do they also send in their personal information like name and address when they pay taxes?
If they do, how would they not get deported?
We don’t let government agencies share information like that for obvious reasons.
Do you mean that if you submit your illegal status to the IRS, they wouldn’t report you to Homeland security or ice or whatever?
Correct. The only thing the IRS cares about is whether you have an SSN or an ITIN.
Picture it: You’re the IRS. You’re basically Santa Claus. You know all.
Do you tattle? Why?
Would it get a few people deported? Maybe. Maybe not.
Would it do anything to solve the systemic issues that result in undocumented immigrants in the first place? Definitely not.
Would it do anything at all to deter future undocumented immigrants? Not a chance.
Would it disincentivize undocumented immigrants from paying taxes, reducing the overall revenue you can collect? Absolutely!
Does this also apply to criminal enterprises and other such persons or groups with secrets? You betcha!
Would it set a dangerous precedent on the slippery slope into authoritarianism? You tell me!
I would wager it’s more about the added revenue than concern over authoritarianism, haha, but that’s very interesting that they don’t report it to homeland security.
Thanks
Anyone can file taxes with an ITIN. I’m an American citizen and I have an ITIN because it made some tax stuff easier a few years ago.
Huh, cool. Thanks
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The article is paywalled so I can’t read it fully. But it sounds like the taxes are coming from indirect taxes (fuel etc.). Where did you get the idea that they are stealing an SSN to pay taxes? Where did you read it?
You don’t need an SSN to pay sales tax buddy.
Here it is … https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/.
Thanks!
To get a job that pays more than under the table work because most legit employers will demand it.
Many jobs require an SSN so if you want to work you need a stolen or fake SSN. Many employers don’t care if you are illegal as long as you have an SSN and they can say that they checked.
Many jobs require an SSN so if you want to work you need a stolen or fake SSN.
Not according to the study. Go read the link I posted to find out the facts.
