For Maria Corina Alonso, tax season makes her feel insecure and exposed because she has lived as an undocumented immigrant in the United States for more than three decades.

Undocumented immigrants can file their taxes with an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number),which is a 9-digit tax processing number that the IRS provides to people who need a US taxpayer identification but are not eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN), such as certain resident/nonresident aliens, spouses, or dependents.

“My first recommendation for undocumented immigrants with an ITIN is to speak with an immigration attorney to receive personalized advice based on their specific case,” said activist Guadalupe Gomez, owner of El Blockcito Income Tax in Santa Ana, California, who has decades of experience in tax preparation.

“My second recommendation is to act in accordance with the law, which states that if they have income, they must file a tax return to pay taxes. Furthermore, At some point, if there is an opportunity to obtain residency in the United States, one of the fundamental requirements to qualify is to pay taxes.” The pro-immigrant leader recommended filing tax returns, but speaking with an immigration attorney to discuss the implications, given the current situation in the country. “If you received income that requires taxation, especially if you are self-employed, it is important to declare it to avoid problems with the tax authorities.” La Opinion contacted the IRS press office to find out if they have any recommendations or messages for people who file their taxes with an ITIN, but there has been no response. The American Immigration Council revealed that in 2023 alone, undocumented immigrant households contributed $89.8 billion in taxes, of which $55.8 billion went to federal income taxes and $33.9 billion to state and local taxes. Their tax contributions helped maintain public services and programs that millions of Americans depend on, such as schools, healthcare systems, infrastructure, and social programs. It is important to recognize that undocumented immigrants make significant tax contributions despite being excluded from many benefits funded by these taxes. For example, they are not eligible for Social Security benefits, even though they contribute billions of dollars to the system. They also cannot claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). a tax benefit that supports low-income working families.

But they may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) if their children have valid Social Security numbers.