EMERALD ISLE IMMIGRATION CENTER
Serving the Needs of our Community
April 18, 2011 Tax Deadline
March 1, 2011, Press Release
All immigrants residing and working in the United States are generally required by law to file income taxes every year. There are other good reasons to file returns as well, including eligibility for citizenship and other immigration benefits and potential tax refunds, credits or exemptions.
To become an American citizen and maintain permanent resident status, immigrants must show evidence that they have filed taxes during the five years prior to their application for naturalization or else proof that filing was not required. Failure to do so may be considered an act of bad moral character, which is a temporary bar to attaining U.S. citizenship. Undocumented immigrants working in the country are not excepted. They must apply for and use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), issues in lieu of a Social Security Number and used for record keeping purposes. The IRS does not currently share any information from taxpayers with other government agencies due to privacy provisions in the tax laws. It is also not in the IRS’s tax collection interest to disclose any information to the immigration authorities, since it will discourage those who are undocumented from filing tax returns.
For the 2010 tax year, a single individual under 65 must generally file a tax return if his or her income was above $9,450 as a regular employee. Individuals who are independent contractors, including those who are self-employed or whose employer does not report their income to the IRS, are required to file a tax return if they earned more than $400 last year.
It is in the best interest of documented and undocumented immigrants alike to file taxes. Filers may be eligible for tax refunds, the Child Tax Credit, or exemptions for dependents. The undocumented may be able to use filing as evidence of physical presence in the U.S. and a good moral character, each a potential requirement towards a path to citizenship under future legislation.
NOTE: THE CENTER WILL BE HOSTING FREE PUBLIC INFORMATION SEMINARS AT OUR WOODSIDE AND WOODLAWN OFFICES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9th AND THURSDAY, MARCH 10th , RESPECTIVELY, FROM 6-8pm.
OUR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, IMMIGRATION COUNSELOR AND PRIVATE ACCOUNTANTS WILL BE ATTENDING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ON GENERAL IMMIGRATION AND TAXES.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CALL THE WOODLAWN OFFICE AT 718-324-3039 OR THE WOODSIDE OFFICE AT 718-478-5502.