Thread: Brazilian workers Fernando and Silvia Mendes are confused.

Eduardo A. de Oliveira
Published: Monday, April 7, 2008
Tax time tough for families
A week before the tax return season is over in the United States, Brazilian workers Fernando and Silvia Mendes are confused.

The couple, living in Nashua, has received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service detailing the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Under the law passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, 130 million American households will receive a check of up to $1,200 a couple. Despite the letter, the Mendeses won't be considered.

As undocumented immigrants, they don't have the right to have a Social Security number.

And although they can't work here lawfully, the federal government still requires them to pay taxes with an individual taxpayer identification number. And they have done so for the past five years.

"Shall our two American sons be eligible to receive the $300 checks sent by the White House?"

The answer is no – only individuals with a valid Social Security number will qualify.

But today, the question is not if undocumented immigrants pay taxes, but for what reasons, said Fernando Castro, an accountant from Massachusetts.

"Some have a legalization process pending, others simply want to do the right thing," said Castro, owner of Income Tax Plus, an H&R Block-style store with five branches in Massachusetts.

Because most of the failed immigration bills made the payment of back taxes a prerequisite for legal status, that message seems to be lasting.

According to IRS statistics, in 2005, 1.9 million returns were filed with the primary taxpayer using an individual taxpayer identification number, up 30 percent from 2004. From 1996 – 2006, the federal agency issued 11 million ITINs.

At Nashua’s Gama Jewelers, accounting specialist Helio R. Filho has been helping immigrants file their income tax reports since 2002. He believes that the number of illegal immigrants paying taxes rises by 15 percent every year.


This year, Filho has assisted more than 400 foreigners for about $45 apiece. The volume is already superior of that in 2006. And Filho said the busiest week of the season is still ahead of us.

"Six years ago more people used to ask me 'what are the benefits for paying taxes?' I always responded: Tax return is first and foremost an obligation."

Housewife Lenita Alves will fly back to Brazil soon. She is unclear whether her 2007 tax refund will reach her there.

Marcos Araujo entered the country legally two years ago with a student permit. Now he's out of school, and consequently out of status.

The answers, Castro said, depends on whether or not a person is a Social Security holder. Araujo will get the $600 check in the mail because he is, and Alves won't because she isn't.

But Juliano Moreira, of Merrimack, is still skeptical. “Is the government giving this money out, or will they collect it back next year?â€

So illegal aliens are confused as to how taxes deducted from their pay will be returned in the future? No problemo, I get it. se comprende. This is typically referred to as "the cost of doing business" and in this case in the illicit category. We can deduct and you don't have any further right to it if you are not here legally. Go home.

If IA's received the stimulus rebate it would quickly leave our country and benefit another country.

Glad to hear some IA's are paying taxes to make up for what they and others have taken from citizens.

IA's paying taxes has risen this year simply because they think this will help them get on the Amnesty gravey train otherwise most IA's could give a flip about helpng citizens or our country.

What's new! The illegal invader always seem to be "confused" when it comes to the rule of law and what they are entitled to (nothing).

Once again, they are under the impression the US is one giant piggy bank for them to grab as much as they can get their hands on!

Shall our two American sons be eligible to receive the $300 checks sent by the White House?"

No, you cannot use your little anchors to claim a rebate unless they have earned income and are filing a tax return with a valid social number. You are an illegal invader with no valid social number so you are not entitled to a rebate.

Oh, almost forgot the most relevant part. Let your fellow illegal invader amigos know the social number they bought on the street corner or ripped off from an American Citizen will not entitle them to a rebate either!

Why doesn't ICE utilize the same information as the IRS and pick these ILLEGALS and their ANCHOR BABIES up for deportation?

No, you cannot use your little anchors to claim a rebate unless they have earned income and are filing a tax return with a valid social number. You are an illegal invader with no valid social number so you are not entitled to a rebate.

Not having a social security number does not prevent one from getting an ITIN, and this opens up other tax credits, like earned income credit and credit for a child. The AARP is on it! I picked up one of their bilingual brochures the other day. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Originally Posted by Captainron

No, you cannot use your little anchors to claim a rebate unless they have earned income and are filing a tax return with a valid social number. You are an illegal invader with no valid social number so you are not entitled to a rebate.

Not having a social security number does not prevent one from getting an ITIN, and this opens up other tax credits, like earned income credit and credit for a child. The AARP is on it! I picked up one of their bilingual brochures the other day. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Your right, but they cannot get a rebate with an ITIN Number, atleast not at the moment. ITIN numbers have nothing to with social security numbers other than they are issued to those who do not qualify for a social security number because of their illegal status and is a method our wonderful government uses to collect taxes from these illegals.

Yes, they can get an ITIN number not only for themselves, but for any family member they wish to claim as a dependant on their tax returns, who alos does not qualify for a social security number.

As with any system set up for the illegal invaders, they have learned how to take full advantage of this ITIN system and know how to utilize it to their advantage!

I have seen one of these ITIN numbers, and it looks just like a social security number. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that banks and credit card companies were accepting this number in place of a valid social security number.