US check leads to wave of firings

Boston Globe Staff ^ | 3/18/2003 | By Cindy Rodriguez,

[Forgiven_Sinner]

A controversial program designed to clear up millions of erroneous Social Security numbers has resulted in a wave of firings all over the country, as companies are told their workers have invalid numbers, sparking fear that some of them may be illegal immigrants.

[mabelkitty]

They were illegal immigrants posing as LEGALS, so that is the difference.

[Once-Ler]

We are having faliure of communication.

You are talking about a students and I am talking about workers with families.

You are correct some students do not have to pay withholding taxes if they are here less than 5 years.

I dare say most American born students pay no federal state or local taxes, because they work so few hours that it is all returned to them.

Can you give me a non student example where your statement "Legal immigrants are exempt from paying taxes." is true please?

If not I would have to say your original statement and clarification is analogous to saying adults can't drive...oppps I meant adults without eyes can't drive.

[Dialup Llama]

>>Under federal law, employers may not ask their workers about their immigration status

>Why is this?

That makes no sense because on every job I've had, they've required from me documents which prove my citizenship or legal ability to work in the US?

[Dialup Llama]

>These illegal immigrants paid federal, state, and local income taxes along with SS Medicare and unemployment insurance.

You've got to be kidding. Anyone using a phoney SSN is going to zero out their W-9 form and have NOTHING taken out.

[Once-Ler]

"Anyone using a phoney SSN is going to zero out their W-9 form and have NOTHING taken out."

According to this article the federal government has $345 billion that says you are wrong. Some of that money is from legal residents who have made an error in giving their SS number . Some of that money is from illegal immigrants that work here intend to stay here if they can. They are paying taxes.

You have obviously never employed anyone.
Employees may claim exempt from Federal taxes as long as they meet two requirements.

Last year, the employee received a refund of all Federal income tax withheld because they had no tax liability.
This year, the employee expects a refund of all Federal income tax withheld because they will have no tax liability.

An employee making above poverty wages and claiming exempt will raise red flags with the employer and with the IRS really quickly.

[Dialup Llama]

>You have obviously never employed anyone.

Obviously you have never been in business and do not file quarterly. You can zero out withholding as long as you make quarterly payments which equal your estimated tax. As far as I know there is nothing requiring anyone to accept monthly withholding.

No illegal in his right mind is going to send in tax payments if he's using a bad SSN. He's going to claim every excemption he can on the W-9.

[Dialup Llama]

>According to this article the federal government has $345 billion that says you are wrong. Some of that money is from legal residents who have made an error in giving their SS number . Some of that money is from illegal immigrants that work here intend to stay here if they can. They are paying taxes.

Read that section of the article again. It says nothing about who paid the $345 billion, it merely says the impact of the corrective action has had the effect of uncovering illegals.

[Once-Ler]

"Sitting on $345 billion in uncredited money paid into the system, the government last year began sending letters to every company in America with at least one employee whose name did not match his or her Social Security number."

The IRS knows it has $345 billion. It know which companies it came from. It sent letters to the companies which paid the money and listed the employees. The rest of the article goes on to say the letters have resulted in firings because the employees where found to be illegal aliens.

This article does indeed say something about who paid the $345 billion. Perhaps you might want to follow your advice to me and read that section of the article again.

[Once-Ler]

Obviously you have never been in business and do not file quarterly. You can zero out withholding as long as you make quarterly payments which equal your estimated tax. As far as I know there is nothing requiring anyone to accept monthly withholding.

I highly doubt many illegal aliens file quarterly either. Most companies do not leave their complience with IRS withholding up to the employees. Employees never see those taxes they are sent in by the companies accountant.

No illegal in his right mind is going to send in tax payments if he's using a bad SSN. He's going to claim every excemption he can on the W-9.

You have completely missed my point. A company who is concerned about obeying the law will point out to an employee that he is uneligable to claim he is exempt. An employer has to pay those taxes to the IRS...NOT the illegal alien. The IRS will look at tax forms if the alien files, and in this case even when they do not. As I have already pointed out, this article has already proven you incorrect - illegal aliens paid some of those taxes.

[varon]

$345 billion in uncredited money paid into the system,

The government wants to know how much of this money it can keep without having to account for it.

The $345 billion could go a long way in covering costs of manpower and facilities in rounding up and deporting illegals. The feds can't claim shortage of funds for not enforcing immigration laws.

[justrepublican]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/868357/posts The wheels on the bus go round and round.

[Salvation]

**Hincapie says some employers used the letters as an excuse to get rid of undesirable employees, especially those who have tried to organize unions.**

Interesting!

[Salvation]

**Employers CAN ask to see work documents. If they see phony documents (and most of the forgeries out there are pathetic--I've seen Social Security cards printed on fax paper, for example), they have a duty to report the holder of those documents to the authorities.**

Employers do have a duty here bump!

[m18436572]

Many employers are making a killing on labor costs and really don't give a rip.

"Printed on a piece of fax paper? Ahhhh... who really cares if I can pocket an extra $2 or $3 on my 10 illegals. Nobody checks anyway! I need to pay off the second mortgage & put in the pool for the kids next summer."

Plenty of bonuses are based on saving money; and cutting labor cost is one of the best ways.

Again... why are the borders open?
Better... who is responsible for checking?