http://www.localnewsleader.com/olberlin ... &id=144293

Staff and agencies
16 February, 2006


By MARY DALRYMPLE, 4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The government gets millions of forms each year from employees whose Social Security numbers don‘t match government records, leading investigators to call Thursday for more action against employers hiring illegal immigrants.

"Unless and until employers are either required to verify (Social Security numbers) prior to submitting wage reports, or faced with stiff penalties for erroneous wage reports, there is no incentive for employers to do anything differently," the Social Security Administration ‘s inspector general, Patrick O‘Carroll, told a group of lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Government Accountability Office said discussions among government agencies about sharing more information about workers who may be illegal immigrants "will not make a difference if the relevant federal agencies do not have credible enforcement programs."

The Social Security Administration collects wage information about employees to determine retirement and disability benefits, while the Homeland Security Department and the Internal Revenue Service play roles in enforcing the laws relating to employees and employers.

Illegal immigrants will try to cross U.S. borders "until we can persuade people that it‘s not easy to get a job in the United States just by making up a Social Security number," he said.

IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said lawmakers should consider that sharing taxpayer information with the Homeland Security Department will likely deter some workers from filing tax returns and paying taxes.

Everson said the law puts most responsibility on workers, not employers, for reporting accurate identification information, making it difficult for the tax agency to fine employers when worker information proves inaccurate.

Late last year, the House passed an immigration bill that would eventually require all employers to verify employees‘ Social Security numbers or face civil or criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers.