On Tax Day, Remember the Contributions of Unauthorized Immigrants

Tom Jawetz writes that unauthorized immigrants make an enormous contribution to our federal, state and local economies and to our tax rolls.

This month, millions of Americans will file their taxes, and millions more have already done so. But what many Americans may not consider as they file their taxes are the immense federal, state and local tax contributions made by unauthorized immigrants.

According to a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, unauthorized immigrants pay an estimated $11.64 billion in state and local taxes each year, adding significant amounts of money to the coffers of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Contributions by unauthorized immigrants also help to ensure the solvency of programs like Social Security. The Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration reported that in 2010, for example, unauthorized immigrants paid a net $12 billion in tax revenue into the system.

The above excerpt was originally published in InsideSources. Click here to view the full article.

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