Unauthorized Immigrants Pay Taxes, Too
The unauthorized, like everyone else in the United States, pay sales taxes. They also pay property taxes-even if they rent. At least half of unauthorized immigrants pay income taxes. Add this all up and it amounts to billions in revenue to state and local governments. Tax Day, therefore, is an appropriate time to underscore the often-overlooked fact that unauthorized immigrants pay taxes. In recognition of that fact, the Immigration Policy Center released a report this week titled Unauthorized Immigrants Pay Taxes, Too.
The report discusses and puts into perspective the estimated state and local taxes paid in 2010 by households that are headed by unauthorized immigrants, which was around $11.2 billion. That included $1.2 billion in personal income taxes, $1.6 billion in property taxes, and $8.4 billion in sales taxes. The states receiving the most tax revenue from households headed by unauthorized immigrants were California ($2.7 billion), Texas ($1.6 billion), Florida ($806.8 million), New York ($662.4 million), and Illinois ($499.2 million).
These figures should be kept in mind as politicians and commentators continue with the seemingly endless debate over what to do with unauthorized immigrants already living in the United States. In spite of the fact that they lack legal status, these immigrants-and their family members-are adding value to the U.S. economy; not only as taxpayers, but as workers, consumers, and entrepreneurs as well.