What is an ITIN?

What is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

What is an ITIN used for?

IRS issues ITINs to help individuals comply with the U.S. tax laws, and to provide a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for Social Security numbers. They are issued regardless of immigration status, because both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting.

Here from the IRS

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Having an ITIN does not require the holder to file an income tax return.

“For example, in 2014, the IRS reported[6] that roughly a quarter of the 21 million ITINs in circulation, or about 5.25 million, were being used to file tax returns. Five years later, in tax year 2019, the IRS reported that it had received over 2 million[7] returns filed by a primary taxpayer with an ITIN. The IRS did not release any data in the intervening years that may explain the difference of 3 million returns. So while we may presume that some policy changes are likely driving these trends, it is hard to say with certainty what might have caused such a precipitous decline.”

Here from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy

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Illegal aliens can and an do obtain ITINs

ITINs do NOT provide legal status or work authorization.

An ITIN does not provide legal immigration status and cannot be used to prove legal presence in the United States.

An ITIN does not provide work authorization and cannot be used to prove work authorization on an I-9 form.

Here from the AmericanImmigrationCouncil.org

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From the Carroll County Star News.

“Is it more irresponsible that moderate Republican Martha Zoller offers up wildly absurd excuses for Kemp’s defiant dereliction of his duty as governor – or that Republican voters remain silent? And how is Republican Kemp any better on illegal immigration than Democrat Joe Biden?

Readers of all descriptions need to know that there is an ignorant attitude and potentially dangerous talking point on illegal immigration circulating under the GOP-ruled Gold Dome and in the Establishment political class. Some elected officials and trusted “conservative” commentators are telling all who will listen that the “don’t worry, it’s not an invasion” invasion at our southern border is “a federal problem.”

Looking back to last session, it is educational to know that multiple bills were passed in the state Senate that would reward and encourage illegal aliens in Georgia.

It is equally important to remember that Georgia is home to more illegals than green card holders and more than Arizona.

When pressed by voters who find the courage to broach the topic with their own elected public servants, many state legislators can be heard responding “there is nothing we can do about illegal immigration on the state or local level!”

This bizarre nonsense should be firmly challenged by voters. To speed that agenda along, while the General Assembly is in session in the coming months there will be specific examples in this space of how treacherous and preposterous this “it’s not our job” attitude really is. As usual, names will be named.

For now, consider the reality that at least one Georgia politician has clearly acknowledged he has the power to address the matter. We should remember all the way back to 2018 when Gov. Kemp was candidate Kemp and recall his campaign ads that led with his solemn promise on what he would do about the crime problem generated by illegal aliens. Kemp promised to go after what he referred to then as “criminal illegals” and to create a public database of that group in Georgia. He pledged to end sanctuary city policies and to work to pass state legislation that would speed up the system that puts illegal aliens into the federal deportation system.

Here are some of Brian Kemp’s exact words from five years ago in describing the promised “Kemp Track and Deport Plan.”

“As governor conservative businessman Brian Kemp will create a comprehensive database to track criminal aliens in Georgia. He will also update Georgia law to streamline deportations from our jails and prisons.”

Brian Kemp’s criminal alien database summary:

Aggregates data from state, local and federal law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies.
Tracks the number of arrests, convictions, deportations and categorizes the crimes committed by criminal aliens.
Destroy silos and provides new law enforcement with sophisticated tools to track organized crime, gang, cartel connections…
Creates valuable data for lawmakers to develop common sense legislation that curbs illegal immigration in Georgia.
Includes opportunities for partnership with President Trump and local universities.”
Readers paying attention may have noticed that not only has Kemp ignored every part of the above promises, but that to this writer’s attentive knowledge, he has not mentioned illegal immigration in Georgia since 2018.

On the topic of bizarre nonsense, please also consider the lengths to which at least one Kemp acolyte has gone to concoct an argument for defending the governor, now in his second term.

Republican radio show host explains Kemp’s refusal to honor his 2018 pledge on ‘criminal illegals’

Republican stalwart and influential Gainesville radio show host Martha Zoller (WDUN- 9-11 AM weekdays and online) says illegal immigration has increased so much that Brian Kemp had to abandon his campaign promises on “criminal illegals” and ending sanctuary cities in Georgia. She has promoted this idea more than once on the air and says discussing Kemp’s betrayal is “wasting time.”

Zoller, a Kemp appointee to the state school board, has repeatedly expressed her irritation on-air with this writer for failing to forget Gov Brian Kemp’s many detailed promises on addressing “criminal illegals.” A former Kemp staffer, she says “he had to change his tactics” (because there are so many illegals). She has promoted this idea more than once on the air and says discussing Kemp’s betrayal is “wasting time.”

For those who need a recap, Talker’s Magazine 2023 Woman of The Year Martha Zoller is advising her trusting audience that Biden’s open borders have apparently made ending illegal sanctuary policies in Georgia, creating a public database of “criminal illegals” and sending legislation (“Brian Kemp’s Track and Deport Plan“) to the General Assembly an outdated, non-priority concept.

Sanctuary city policies are already illegal under at least two state laws. Georgia’s governor is not enforcing them.

So, closing questions: Is it more irresponsible that moderate Republican Martha Zoller offers up wildly absurd excuses for Kemp’s defiant dereliction of his duty as governor – or that Republican voters remain silent? And how is Republican Kemp any better on illegal immigration than Democrat Joe Biden?

The above column was published in the November 13, 2023 issue of the Carroll County Star News.