Do immigrants really get a tax break?

Question

Somebody I was talking to insists that immigrants to the US get special tax breaks for the first few years they are here, like on their income, or money they've earned from their own business.

Are there any special tax breaks for legal immigrants to the USA. If so, could you please cite your source?

If it's an urban legend as I believe, could you also link to that?

I do mean legal immigrants. And I also found the urban legend reference on Snopes. I'm looking for more confirmation.

Answer 1

I saw on the news a couple of years ago that , even if here illegally, therefore not owning SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, they are allowed to not only file tax returns , but were permitted to claim the EARNED INCOME CREDIT benefits, as long as they received a " Tax Number " from the local tax office. I worked with 56-year pld Americans who never in their life qualified for the EIC in all the years they worked , for various reasons , RESEARCH THIS YOURSELF, stating with CA

Answer 2

My mom owns her own business, (we are mexican, and yes, legal) and she paid taxes from day 1. The only thing is that for the first 2 years, the IRS doesn't really look into all your earnings/profit/losses, they give you 2 years to see if your business will make it. After that, you better have everything in order. But she never got any tax break.

Answer 3

Its not true what so ever....

My husband got his residency last year and prior to that, he had his green card.....We in NO WAY, receive any tax breaks.....We are taxed at the normal rate for our income....

That is a urban legend that anti illegals think they can just cite without doing any research before hand, because they heard some misinformed person saying it....

Answer 4

If legal immigrants own a new business, they have no taxes on that business for one year. The loophole in that law is that the immigrants keep sending over relatives from their old country, and then they run the business, and they can get away from taxes for, literally, ever.

Answer 5

The US has tax treaties with several countries that eliminate double taxation of citizens working here or there. The IRS is also meticulous about tax rules for resident and nonresident aliens; there are certain exemptions for nonresidents, of course, and they are careful to get their share and no more from international businesses. Here are several references that are useful.

There is no special exemption mentioned anywhere on the IRS web site nor on any individual tax forms or instructions for new immigrants.

Answer 6

I don't know about tax breaks, however, minority owned businesses get priority in government contracts, so they would get the benefit of that if they were both a legal immigrant and considered a 'minority'.

Answer 7

I just read a great article on it, darn it if I can find it again, but what I can tell you now is, if you didn't think they got unfair benefits and treatments, why do you think there are over 500 bills alone across the country to stop it?

Answer 8

I know (in texas anyway)that everyone who opens a business doesn't pay taxes the first 2 yrs.

Answer 9

oh yeah. The theory is the more money out of what they make that they actually get to keep...the faster they run back over the border to go home. I know...its not fair.

Answer 10

yes it is true. there are people wrtiting to their congressmen wanting to file for illegial immigrant status. not only for the taxes but for in state school tuition in any state they choose. you should listen to phil valentine and g gordon liddy for more accurate information.