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Post by oldsbdcjim on Sept 2, 2011 16:00:07 GMT -5
Undocumented workers got billions from IRS in tax credits, audit finds
By Lisa Rein
Rein
This story has been updated.
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.
Eye Opener
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.
The IRS said it lacks the authority to disallow the claims.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, On Friday announced plans to examine the refunds.
“The disconcerting findings in this report demand immediate attention and action from Congress and the Obama Administration,” Hatch said in a statement.. “With our debt standing at over $14.5 trillion and counting, it’s outrageous that the IRS is handing out refundable tax credits...to those who aren’t even eligible to work in this country.”
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.
Their data showed that 72 percent of returns filed with taxpayer identification numbers claimed the child tax credit.
The audit recommended that the IRS seek clarification on the law and check the immigration status of filers with taxpayer indentificaion numbers.
IRS officials, in response to a draft of the report, agreed to consult with the Treasury Department on the law. But they said they have no legal authority to demand that filers prove their legal status when the tax agency processes returns.
Changes to tax law are partly to blame for the explosion in refunds for additional child tax credits in recent years, auditors found. Before 2001, filers needed to have three or more children to qualify — and to owe more Social Security taxes than earned income credits.
But those requirements have been eliminated and the allowable refund for each child doubled. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 also made the refund easier to get, auditors found.
How's that for hope and change.
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 2, 2011 18:04:27 GMT -5
In 2003 illegal immigration accelerated under the Bush Admin. The INS, that had been in existence for more than 100 years was absorbed into the Homeland Security Department. More than 3 million illegals crossed the border in 2004 alone. The massive security overhaul signed by Bush in 2005 authorized the hiring of 10,000 additional border agents, yet only a few hundred were hired. The U.S.- Mexico border remains seriously under patrolled.
It became a serious problem long before Obama became president, and remains so today. It makes me wonder just how much the corporate powers in this country influence this, big business loves cheap labor.
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Post by ackspac on Sept 2, 2011 19:26:59 GMT -5
In 2003 illegal immigration accelerated under the Bush Admin. The INS, that had been in existence for more than 100 years was absorbed into the Homeland Security Department. More than 3 million illegals crossed the border in 2004 alone. The massive security overhaul signed by Bush in 2005 authorized the hiring of 10,000 additional border agents, yet only a few hundred were hired. The U.S.- Mexico border remains seriously under patrolled. It became a serious problem long before Obama became president, and remains so today. It makes me wonder just how much the corporate powers in this country influence this, big business loves cheap labor. True, but Obama is about to give all the illegals in the US amnesty. That will only add to the unemployment numbers of American workers, who are from here. Obama's admin has let up on the number active border patrol agents and put them inside offices and stations through out Texas, Arizona and California. Janet Napilito has even told border patrol angents to let border crossers go, that they needed to keep those numbers down, so it looks better for them on paper. Eric Holder and the ATF let thousands of rifles cross the border into Mexico right into the hands of the cartels. Obama aint no saint. |
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 2, 2011 19:35:07 GMT -5
In 1986 Reagan signed an act that was sold as a border tightening bill, yet it effectively gave amnesty to approximately 3 million illegals.
This year the budget for border patrol was cut by 1.1 billion dollars, part of the GOPs plan for cutting the debt.
No matter what party is in control, Wall Street influences everything, and the corporate world loves cheap labor.
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Post by ackspac on Sept 2, 2011 21:05:48 GMT -5
. This year the budget for border patrol was cut by 1.1 billion dollars, part of the GOPs plan for cutting the debt. . Not true! On a visit to Texas this month, the topic of Border Patrol agents being scaled back was headline news down there. The Obama admin and head of Homeland Security Janet Napilito CHOSE to scale back the number of active border patrol agents who patrol the border with Mexico. No one from the Obama admin or Napilitos staff would comment why they did this, even after the shooting of a BPA in Dec of 2010 in Az. The Ntl Guard was sent to Az last year to help the BPA, but the Obama admin assigned the Ntl Guard desk duty jobs in Az. It has been documented in Janet Napilitos own words: "That if the Border Patrol Agents scale back their arrest of illiegal crossing the border, it will make the Obama admin look like its doing the best job ever of securing our borders". Fewer arrest make it look like fewer illegals are crossing. |
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 3, 2011 9:40:29 GMT -5
Yes very true.
In June the House approved a 40.6 million dollar HomeLand Security budget. HR 2017 will fund agencies such as FEMA, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, TSA, and Coast Guard. The 2012 budget was slashed by 2.6% or 1.1 billion dollars, all part of the GOPs push to cut spending.
Yes, very true.
The statements made by Napolitano on Obamas visit to Texas said no such thing, she only alluded to "deferred action" concerning illegal aliens with humanitarian issues. You quoted what Rush Limbaugh and other right wingers thought they heard her say! LOL
As to the original post, obviously meant to be inflammatory to the current administration. Any procedures used by the IRS are enacted by law, and these laws have been in place for years, yet nowhere does it mention any member of Congress, Republican or Democrat, writing a Bill to change these current laws.
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Post by ackspac on Sept 3, 2011 11:29:31 GMT -5
Yes very true. In June the House approved a 40.6 million dollar HomeLand Security budget. HR 2017 will fund agencies such as FEMA, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, TSA, and Coast Guard. The 2012 budget was slashed by 2.6% or 1.1 billion dollars, all part of the GOPs push to cut spending. Yes, very true. The statements made by Napolitano on Obamas visit to Texas said no such thing, she only alluded to "deferred action" concerning illegal aliens with humanitarian issues. You quoted what Rush Limbaugh and other right wingers thought they heard her say! LOL As to the original post, obviously meant to be inflammatory to the current administration. Any procedures used by the IRS are enacted by law, and these laws have been in place for years, yet nowhere does it mention any member of Congress, Republican or Democrat, writing a Bill to change these current laws. Really good at taking things out of context. I WAS IN TEXAS just 3 short weeks ago, and seen and read in their local news/paper at what is going on down there. They showed the letters from HLS signed by Janet Napilatno himself, about letting border crossers go. As far as Rush Limturd is concerned, he can go OD on his pain pills and Viagra. Im in no way defending the GOP, Im just stating that Obama is giving the illegals a golden ticket and free guns to the cartels. BTW, before any funding was cut by congress on the Border Patrol, the Obama administration cut back on its numbers of people who patrol the borders. The Obama admin spent millions on putting warning signs up near the border to replace the BP agents. You can quote all you want from CNN or MSNBC, but I was there and I seen it with my own eyes. |
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 3, 2011 14:34:36 GMT -5
The U.S. simply does not have the money to support the Border patrol costs, you can blame it on whom ever you like, the facts are that more came in under Bush's presidency than any other time. Texas is very pro-Bush, what did you expect them to say?
The Republicans try to sell the myth that they are against illegal aliens, yet the corporate world benefits the most from these low paid workers. They also know that they aren't going to lose their jobs to them! LOL
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Post by marcus on Sept 3, 2011 14:46:07 GMT -5
When are some of you people going to get it both the Rs or the Ds dont give a crap.So stop always trying to say well bush did it so its ok for Obama to do it.Bush was not that great a pres and obama is insane on the amount of money he is spending.We need to stop the invasion of mexicans into our country not THERES.
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 3, 2011 15:15:51 GMT -5
I agree Marcus. It just seemed that the original post blamed the whole scenario on Obama, which is not true.
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Post by ackspac on Sept 3, 2011 23:53:17 GMT -5
Texas is very pro-Bush, what did you expect them to say? Why is this the lefts answer for everything? Really, why? Its Bush's fault...... Its getting old. Doesnt matter that Texas is "pro Bush" or not, its the truth. Go to south Texas and talk to any rancher or land owner and they will tell you that its worse now then ever. The Big O is failing worse then what both Bush's and Clinton did at keeping our borders safe. Look no further then the "Operation Gun Runner." Janet Reno and Janet Napilatano seem like twins to me. |
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 4, 2011 7:39:23 GMT -5
In the previous decade or so, (during another presidents admin) the U.S. had a much larger budget to protect these borders, yet illegals still came in by the millions. Now several years later (in this presidents admin) during a massive debt crisis the U.S. has slashed the budget for this border defense, so illegals are still coming in. What's the point? I just don't see why it's all the current presidents fault.
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Post by marcus on Sept 4, 2011 10:23:46 GMT -5
We need people in there that really want to close the boarder one side sees votes the other cheap labor so we as Americans lose.
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 4, 2011 11:03:08 GMT -5
I believe that many of the influential wealthy Texas industrialists, the ones that benefit the most from cheap labor, have a big say in the border fiasco. Governor Perry there has avoided many of those accusations concerning the economy of Texas because of the many illegals in the labor market there.
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Post by oldsbdcjim on Sept 4, 2011 15:25:17 GMT -5
Obama is president, not Bush. If Obama isn't responsible why did his administration fight tooth and nail against AZ immigration laws. Maybe we could hire more border guards if we quit spending money on $4.2 billion worth of tax credits.
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Post by ackspac on Sept 4, 2011 16:06:50 GMT -5
Obama is president, not Bush. If Obama isn't responsible why did his administration fight tooth and nail against AZ immigration laws. Maybe we could hire more border guards if we quit spending money on $4.2 billion worth of tax credits. +1 Some people fail to see that the Federal Govt does not let states make or enforce their own laws any more. California has tougher laws on illegal immigration then any other state. They just don't enforce them. The Feds tell us what toilets, light bulbs, cars, etc we have to buy. But the Obama defenders fail to see the light. I don't care if it was a Repub in office right now, pulling the same crap, I would be pissed at him/or her as well. |
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Post by ktpelec on Sept 4, 2011 17:46:33 GMT -5
I'm not defending anyone, just giving my opinion on the original post. These tax laws that illegals are taking advantage of have been in place for years, they weren't put in place by the current administration. Complain about the American law firms that represent these illegals, they're making money on it.
The tax laws are enacted by Congress, not the president. Write your Representatives, tell them you want the tax laws changed.
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