WHat is genetic Identification?

What do you make of this Tax Identification Numbers are receiving more than $1.5 billion Child Tax Credits?

• Summary: The Treasury Department reports that illegal immigrants filing tax returns using the Individual Tax Identification Number are receiving more than $1.5 billion each year from the federal government through the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit. Many illegal immigrants are regularly accessing welfare benefits in the United States in different ways.1 They may do so through those state and local governments that do not verify citizenship or that accept false proof of citizenship. In many cases, they access welfare benefits through their citizen children born in the United States. Additionally, and this is the focus of this report, there are ways illegal immigrants can obtain a form of federal welfare that is available to income tax filers. Since a significant percentage of illegal immigrants have low incomes, work “off the books,” or work with false names and Social Security numbers, it is likely that many report little or no income when applying for federal, state, or local benefits. An illegal immigrant cannot qualify for a legitimate Social Security number to use to file income tax returns or for any other purposes. Thus, a major facilitator for illegal immigrant access to income tax-based welfare benefits is the nine-digit Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) established by the IRS in 1996. It was initially established for people like foreign investors, who are required to file U.S. income tax forms but can not legally obtain a Social Security number. However, the IRS has allowed illegal immigrants to apply for and use the ITIN for filing income taxes returns related to income earned in the United States. Consequently, the ITIN quickly became a vehicle for illegal immigrants to obtain refunds of part or all of income taxes withheld (if any) from their pay and for obtaining refundable tax credits above and beyond any withholding. All but a small minority of people using ITINs today are illegal immigrants.2 http://cis.org/child-tax-credits

• Answer:

  This probably partly explains why I see undocumented immigrant parents drive up in recent model SUVs and vans to drop off their children, who toddle to the cafeteria for a free breakfast. We're not allowed to ask about legal status, but that doesn't stop the kids from blabbing in class. The big problem isn't illegal immigration per se but unenforced employment laws that allow people to work easily off the books, underreport income or claim too many credits, paying only sales and low property taxes while using public services and getting all available public benefits for their US citizen children. I'd like to see local construction companies start a "Take Our Jobs!" campaign.