#itins

Get Ready for Taxes: What to do before the tax year ends Dec. 31

WASHINGTON –The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers there are things they should do now to get ready for the tax-filing season ahead.

Charitable Contributions For most taxpayers, Dec. 31 is the last day to take actions that will impact their 2019 tax return. For example, those who plan to itemize deductions should know that charitable contributions are deductible in the year…

It’s time again for folks to renew their ITINs…here are some things to remember

Taxpayers with individual taxpayer identification numbers should find out if their number expires this year.  If it does, they should renew it now to avoid delays with their refund when they file their taxes next year.

An ITINis a tax ID number used by taxpayers who don’t qualify for a Social Security number. Here’s what these taxpayers need to know about which numbers are expiring and how to…

The WTHR 13 News in Indiana has brought renewed attention to how the IRS handles income tax returns from illegal immigrants. When an illegal immigrant files a return they will often use an ITIN number (unless they choose to use a fraudulent SSN). WTHR's report focuses on those returns that have claimed Child Tax Credits, allowing the illegal immigrant to receive large tax refunds - often for children not residing in the the U.S.

This is not a new issue; the Center for Immigration Studies has reported on the use of ITIN numbers since 2002 and reported on the Treasury Department reports featured in the WTHR exposé in 2010 and 2011. Regardless, the loophole continues to hemorrhage tax revenue and in depth reporting on topics such as this is rare, particularly in TV news, and hopefully this report helps keep this issue at afloat at a national level.

Video of WTHR's four-part series is after the jump.