July 15, 2013

About.com: Unauthorized Immigrants Paying Plenty in Government Taxes

media mention

(Original Post)

By Dan Moffett, About.com GuideJuly 15, 2013
A nonpartisan Washington think tank says that unauthorized immigrants generally pay as much in taxes as U.S. citizens and they would pay a lot more to the state, local and federal governments if comprehensive immigration reform happens.
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released a study this month which concludes that undocumented immigrants pay about $10.6 billion in taxes annually to governments at all levels, and after reform by Congress, they could pay an extra $2 billion a year.
The report refutes the commonly heard argument from conservatives and opponents of comprehensive immigration reform that the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the country don’t pay taxes and are hurting the economy.
In fact, the ITEP study shows that these immigrants are paying taxes across the board — sales taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, state income taxes and federal income taxes, even though they are living here illegally.
California received $2.2 billion in tax revenues from undocumented immigrants in 2010 to lead the nation, according to the study. Texas got $1.6 billion, New York $744 million and Florida $706 million.
The ITEP study supports research from the Congressional Budget Office that shows comprehensive immigration reform would bring in more tax revenues and help decrease the nation’s deficit.
The nonpartisan CBO estimates that enacting the immigration reform bill will increase real GDP by 3.3% in 2023 and 5.4% in 2033 — an increase of roughly $700 billion in 2023 and $1.4 trillion in 2033 in today’s dollars.

By Dan Moffett, About.com Guide

July 15, 2013

A nonpartisan Washington think tank says that unauthorized immigrants generally pay as much in taxes as U.S. citizens and they would pay a lot more to the state, local and federal governments if comprehensive immigration reform happens.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released a study this month which concludes that undocumented immigrants pay about $10.6 billion in taxes annually to governments at all levels, and after reform by Congress, they could pay an extra $2 billion a year.

The report refutes the commonly heard argument from conservatives and opponents of comprehensive immigration reform that the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the country don’t pay taxes and are hurting the economy.

In fact, the ITEP study shows that these immigrants are paying taxes across the board — sales taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, state income taxes and federal income taxes, even though they are living here illegally.

California received $2.2 billion in tax revenues from undocumented immigrants in 2010 to lead the nation, according to the study. Texas got $1.6 billion, New York $744 million and Florida $706 million.

The ITEP study supports research from the Congressional Budget Office that shows comprehensive immigration reform would bring in more tax revenues and help decrease the nation’s deficit.

The nonpartisan CBO estimates that enacting the immigration reform bill will increase real GDP by 3.3% in 2023 and 5.4% in 2033 — an increase of roughly $700 billion in 2023 and $1.4 trillion in 2033 in today’s dollars.

 


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