The Greenwich Time ran this very interesting story including data about rising number of immigrants in CT - data which seems difficult to obtain. The paper interviewed several CT tax preparers who are seeing a big jump in applicants requesting an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). The ITIN allows non-citizens to file their taxes without a Social Security Number. These non-citizens use preparers because the majority are not English speaking and can't easily fill out technical documents.
There were 50,000 such ITIN filers in 2023 out of total 1,800,000 CT tax filers, or about 3% of the total filers. the proportion of ITIN filers has been growing steadily over the past five years, even as the total number of regular taxpayers in the state remains relatively stable.
The good news is that these 50,000 undocumented immigrants are productively working. The bad news is that there are many more unaccounted immigrants who are likely not paying taxes. In a prior story, the Greenwich Time noted that grounds maintenance was the most prevalent type of work for unauthorized immigrants. Also, domestic helpers are a big cohort.
When will that State provide us with the real numbers and the financial impact to taxpayers of assimilating all these non-English speakers?
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