Migrants crowding into tax filing

Motivated by qualifying to stay in U.S. — and simply to get a refund
By David Twiddy
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pedro Morales filed his first income-tax return four years ago, a difficult decision for an illegal immigrant and one that caused years of headaches because the apartment manager who prepared his return made so many mistakes.

"It doesn't help when you have a bad experience, because it makes you want to give up," Morales, 37, said through an interpreter. He acknowledged that many of his neighbors in Johnson County, Kan., who are illegal immigrants don't file income-tax returns.

But Morales has continued to file taxes with the help of better-informed preparers, hoping to build a tax history that will help his case when he eventually applies for permission to remain in the United States.

Morales isn't alone. Many immigrants are filing tax returns either because of requirements showing a five-year record of tax payments when applying for a green card or a simple desire to get a refund.