Undocumented workers got billions from IRS in tax credits, audit finds

Washington Post ^ | 09/02/11 | Lisa Rein

[DFG]

The Internal Revenue Service allowed undocumented workers to collect $4.2 billion in refundable tax credits last year, a new audit says, almost quadruple the sum five years ago.

Although undocumented workers are not eligible for federal benefits, the report released Thursday by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration concludes that federal law is ambiguous on whether these workers qualify for a tax break based on earned income called the additional child tax credit.

Taxpayers can claim this credit to reduce what they owe in taxes, often getting refunds from the government. The vagueness of federal law may have contributed to the $4.2 billion in credits, the report said.

[Tempest]

They can prepare for a lotto windfall

[AliVeritas]

ping

[Confab]

This certainly flies in the face of the whole “illegals pay their fair share in taxes” argument.

[hellbender]

Rick Perry thinks illegals' anchor babies deserve taxpayer-subsidized in-state tuition at state universities because their parents "paid taxes" all those years. Rick Perry, you are not qualified to be POTUS. Send all the illegals home now. End La Raza's Reconquista now. End all Muslim and other Third World immigration now.

[EternalVigilance]

More proof, as if we needed any, that those who are supposed to represent us are INSANE.

[Moonman62]

From the IRS:

Additional Child Tax Credit - If the amount of your Child Tax Credit is greater than the amount of income tax you owe, you may be able to claim the Additional Child Tax Credit.

I don't think income is even required to get this credit.

[GOPJ]

Wage earners who do not have Social Security numbers and are not authorized to work in the United States can use what the IRS calls individual taxpayer identification numbers. Often these result in fraudulent claims on tax returns, auditors found.

What? What? People who break the law and come here illegally are ALSO willing to break our tax laws? OMG, how can it be? /s

[posterchild]

If they are ‘undocumented’ how did the IRS know how to mail them a check or make a direct deposit?

[all the best]

NO. It’s those who think they are going to get any better out of monstrous runaway government who are insane. Every one of these stories is just another dog-bites-man story: nothing new.

[blueunicorn6]

Gimmegimmegimmegimmegimmelet’spaypeopleinprisontoogimmegimmegimmegimmegimme

[Liz]

Shockeroo-—illegals getting EITC refunds, falsifying documents, using multiple identities to ride the US gravy train?

Remeber what Karl Rove said? “Sure, illegals will violate our borders, but once here, they’ll taste freedom and embrace democracy.”

Right again, Karl (/snix).

[org.whodat]

Beat me to it, they need to get money for that Perry education from somewhere.

[EternalVigilance]

Remember what Karl Rove said? “Sure, illegals will violate our borders, but once here, they’ll taste freedom and embrace democracy.”

Pretty sad when someone with that much political power doesn't even know we live in a constitutional republic, not a democracy.

[org.whodat]

That is not their job, how many people have your hear of getting arrested and they find several people are using the same SS number.

[Fred]

YeeeeHaaa...great selling point for Perry for prez...get this on his website ASAP...

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Shockeroo-—illegals getting EITC refunds, falsifying documents, using multiple identities to ride the US gravy train? Remeber what Karl Rove said? “Sure, illegals will violate our borders, but once here, they’ll taste freedom and embrace democracy.” Right again, Karl (/snix)."

Karl would respond : OK, maybe they might not follow our laws, and maybe they might demand their (and all their relatives too) American Dream paid for by taxpayers, but they still could be convinced to vote Republican sometimes if the price is right(and explained to them verbally in their prefered language) , if only Republicans were to open their hearts and our wallets to them.

[Tempest]

2 points for me! :D

[stephenjohnbanker]

: )