Fact check: How do undocumented immigrants pay taxes with out a SSN

1. Summary of the results

Undocumented immigrants can pay taxes without a Social Security Number by using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ^{[1] [2]}. The ITIN serves as a tax processing number that allows individuals without SSNs to comply with U.S. tax laws and file tax returns ^[2].

Many undocumented immigrants actively use ITINs to file tax returns, contributing billions of dollars to federal, state, and local taxes ^[3]. However, despite making these substantial tax contributions, they remain ineligible for some tax benefits that are available to documented taxpayers ^[3].

The ITIN system enables individuals to contribute to essential government programs through their tax payments, though it's important to note that obtaining an ITIN does not provide legal status or work authorization ^[2]. Tax compliance through ITIN filing can also be important for immigration cases that undocumented immigrants may pursue in the future ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question doesn't address several critical aspects of this issue:

• Enforcement risks: There is an agreement between the IRS and ICE to share taxpayer information of suspected undocumented immigrants, which creates significant risks for those who file taxes ^[4]. This information sharing arrangement may affect undocumented immigrants' willingness to file taxes due to fears of immigration enforcement ^[4].
• Economic impact: The analyses reveal that undocumented immigrants make substantial contributions to the U.S. economy through taxes ^[3], which contradicts common narratives that they only take from the system without contributing.
• Consequences of non-compliance: The question doesn't mention the potential consequences of not filing taxes, which can negatively impact future immigration proceedings ^[3].
• Fear factor: There is rising fear among undocumented immigrants about filing taxes, particularly around Tax Day, due to concerns about government data sharing and enforcement actions ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, as it's posed as a genuine inquiry. However, the framing implicitly suggests that undocumented immigrants cannot or do not pay taxes without SSNs, which is factually incorrect.

The question may reflect a common misconception that undocumented immigrants don't contribute to the tax system, when in reality they contribute billions of dollars annually through the ITIN system ^[3]. This misconception benefits those who wish to portray undocumented immigrants as purely burdensome to society, while ignoring their substantial financial contributions to government revenues and essential programs.

The analyses demonstrate that the tax system has established mechanisms specifically designed to collect taxes from individuals regardless of their immigration status, contradicting narratives that suggest undocumented immigrants operate entirely outside the formal economic system.