Migrant filings rise, tax preparers report

Under U.S. law, a record can help with legal status

Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 11, 2007 12:00 AM

Saul Romero, an undocumented immigrant from Puebla, Mexico, has been working in the United States illegally for six years.

Last week, the Phoenix factory worker walked into the offices of Campos Enterprises, a tax preparer in Glendale, and for the first time filed his income taxes with the Internal Revenue Service.

Tax preparers are seeing a surge in the number of undocumented immigrants like Romero as the April 17 filing deadline approaches.

Filings are rising despite stepped-up efforts to crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.

Many illegal immigrants are hoping that playing by the rules now will help them earn legal status in the future should Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform, say tax preparers, immigrant advocates and legal experts. Many also hope to get a refund.

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How an undocumented immigrant files taxes

Apr. 11, 2007 12:19 AM

1. Undocumented immigrant buys fake Social Security card with made-up number or number belonging to someone else. He uses that and other bogus documents to apply for a job.

2. Employer, who is not required to verify that documents are real, hires worker. Undocumented worker begins receiving paycheck, with income taxes withheld.

3. Undocumented worker receives W-2 form from employer listing wages earned and total taxes withheld. Employer sends copy of worker's W-2 to Social Security Administration, which forwards information to Internal Revenue Service.