IRS Drafts Citizenship Question for 2027 Tax Returns

NewsMax ^ | 29 September 2026 | Newsmax Wires

[Merrick]

The Trump administration is considering adding a citizenship and work authorization question to next year's federal tax return, while separately proposing rules that could restrict access to the full value of several tax credits for some immigrants who are legally allowed to live and work in the United States.

A draft of Form 1040 released by the Internal Revenue Service this month asks filers to check "Yes" or "No" to this question: "At the time you file your return, are you, and your spouse if filing jointly, a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an alien lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.?"

The administration says the question would help ensure tax benefits go to people eligible under the law, reports The New York Times on Tuesday.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: illegals; irs; taxes

[Merrick]

It worked for Capone...

[equaviator]

It’s nothing until it’s finally published. At the very least, it will have them talking about it: “Ay carumba!”

[GingisK]

If I were to ask if you were a US citizen, would you say “yes”?

[Merrick]

Umm... yes, because I am. I’m not sure what point you are trying to make.

[Merrick]

Since I have no idea what you're point is, and have no idea if you'll ever be back to make it - I can make some guesses and respond.

For starters:

ax Perjury (26 U.S.C. 7206): Filing a return you know is false is a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison and fines up to $100,000.

So, you're not a citizen, you lie and say you are a citizen - you've just committed a felony. DEPORTED felon.

You're not a citizen and you tell the truth. Now we have your name, tax ID, and signature swearing you are *NOT* a citizen, in federal records, to check against voting records in the state you are filing from.

Just two thoughts off the top of my head. Are those enough reasons?

Capone went to and died in jail because he lied on his tax forms.

[GingisK]

That is my proposed wording of the citizen question. I won’t even go over the origin.

[dfwgator]

Judge to strike down in 3....2....1....

[GingisK]

OK, since you are curious, an old puzzle from the software/logic world...

A man is told that at the end of a long hallway there are two doors. He must, upon pain of death exit through one of those doors. One door exits safely, the other door guarantees a painful death. There is a guard at each door. One guard will always lie, the other will never lie. How does the man choose the door to safety?

He must ask either guard, "If I were to ask you if yours is the door to safety, would you say yes?"

[Merrick]

Since I am perfectly safe answering, “yes I am an American citizen,” I don’t suffer from the dilemma. The dilemma also does *NOT* exist for non-citizens who are here *LEGALLY*, with a *LEGAL* right to work, and who have *NOT* illegally voted.

For whom *does* the dilemma exist?

1. Anyone who is here illegally.
2. Anyone who is here legally but working illegally.
3. Anyone who votes illegally, regardless of whether or not they are or are not here legally and are or are not working legally.

So, sure, they have a dilemma. Glad to bring it to them.
But I don’t have a dilemma. So I am not sure why your question matters to *me*.

So, to be clear, there are no two guards for me, and I couldn’t care less what either says, and neither will touch me. I am an American citizen truthfully answering a simple question about my citizenship. I have ZERO DANGER in telling the truth.

[Bernard]

Finally, a use for that 70,000 armed IRS agents Joe Biden put on the payroll!

Considering all the other things you need to prove in order to secure a refund, this questions seems mild.

[Merrick]

And I like our odds at SCOTUS. We don’t win them all, but we win most.

[Merrick]

Your puzzle is interesting - but it’s a completely irrelevant comparison to what this question represents for American citizens and non-citizens who are here legally and obeying the law. If you are neither, the question could pose a dilemma. But *that’s* the point.

[dfwgator]

[Presbyterian Reporter]

This is a good move to further squeeze the illegals in the USA.

If an illegal does not file a 1040 tax return, then the illegal has committed a crime and can be deported.

If an illegal falsely claims citizenship, the illegal commits a crime and can be deported.

The Democrats like to make sure that everyone pays their fair share of income tax, so the Democrats should be in favor of making sure the illegals file a 1040.

[Merrick]

Yep - and you and me and every other legal citizen and legal alien proudly check the box correctly and go about our lives.

[GingisK]

Also, we’d be looking forever for someone who always lied and another who always told the truth. I was merely being snarky over the IRS’s “ways and means”.

[Mr. Lucky]

Al Capone died in his mansion in Palm Island, Florida.