Billions and billions in tax revenue from paperless immigrants

By: Harlan York
March 8, 2011

MANY PEOPLE without green cards have been doing this for many years: paying their taxes. We have represented thousands of people who did so for a decade or more before getting lawful residence. The government issues ITINs much more easily than working papers:

Illegal immigrants are pouring into tax-preparation offices and nonprofit agencies across Massachusetts and the nation to file state and federal income taxes, taking a step that some might deem unthinkable: giving their name, address, and financial information to the government. In Massachusetts, taxpayers here illegally are lining up, despite the fear of deportation that is permeating the Boston area. While typical American taxpayers are wary of the IRS, the undocumented see it as help in their quest for legal residency. “If you’re making a case that you want to stay here, without a doubt that’s one of the things that the judge is going to look at,” said said Corinn Williams, executive director of the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford. The IRS created taxpayer identification numbers, or ITINs, in 1996, to track tax returns of those who are ineligible for a Social Security number. Most taxpayers who use ITINs are believed to be illegal immigrants. Nationally, more than 2.1 million such taxpayers filed in 2005. The rising number of taxpayers parallels the national debate about what to do about illegal immigration. Advocates point to paying taxes as proof that immigrants help the economy. From 1996 to 2003, according to an IRS study, ITIN holders were responsible for paying the government almost $50 billion, most of which was withheld from their paychecks. (Boston Globe)

About Harlan York

The first-ever attorney in New Jersey to win “Immigration Lawyer of the Year” from Best Lawyers, Harlan York is former immigration chair of the NJ State Bar Association and former co-chair for the NY State Bar Association CFLS Committee on Immigration. He currently serves on the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Practice Management Committee.

E-mail Us

Have a Question About Immigration?

Contact Harlan York with your questions. We answer emails within 24 hours or less.

"*" indicates required fields

Harlan York & Associates practices law in the areas of Immigration, Deportation Defense, Family Immigration, Corporate Immigration, Naturalization throughout Essex County – Hudson County – Morris County – Passaic County – Somerset County – Middlesex County – Bergen County – New Jersey -Immigration Lawyer – NJ Immigration Lawyer – Jersey City-Newark-Paterson Passaic Elizabeth Edison Woodbridge Toms River Hamilton Trenton Camden Clifton Passaic Garfield Wallington Cherry Hill East Orange Passaic Union City Bayonne Irvington Old Bridge Lakewood North Bergen Vineland Union Wayne Parsippany-Troy Hills New Brunswick Plainfield Bloomfield Perth Amboy East Brunswick West New York West Orange Hackensack Atlantic City Kearny Mount Laurel Montclair Essex Hoboken North Brunswick Belleville. In addition to serving clients in New York, Pennsylvania, the greater United States, and Internationally.

Contact Our Immigration Lawyers Now

WE RETURN MOST CALLS WITHIN 24 HOURS

E-mail

Consultation

Pay Invoice

Harlan York Has Been Featured On

Book A Consultation

https://calendly.com/immigrationlawnj/30min-consultation/?month=2023-09