ABClatino Magazine Year 7 Issue 7 | Page 17

All people working in the US (legally or illegally) have to pay taxes. Those who do not file taxes are considered people of bad moral character for immigration purposes. When an immigrant wants to legalize their status or apply for citizenship in the US, they have to file their taxes for a period of 3 or 5 years. For their residency interview their sponsor has to show that they earned enough money each year to support the immigrant and their family, based on the poverty level list and the number of dependents they have. People in deportation cannot prove good moral character if they have not filed taxes for a period of at least 10 years, and in deportation proceedings they need to prove good conduct.

 

You must report your earnings correctly. For example, persons from Mexico can claim spouses and children they are supporting in Mexico as dependents. People without legal documents can fill out their taxes and request an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number). If a worker does not file taxes or declares a lower income than he earned, he will have to pay penalties and interest when he amends the taxes with the government in the future.

 

TAXES and the IMMIGRANT

Por / By Robert Fuchs, Esq.