13 WTHR Indianapolis: House lawmakers debate tax loophole question

[Patricia M. McBride]

This television station did a week long programming effort culminating an investigation after a whistle blower provided information about the illegal aliens taking money based on child tax credits.  The IRS has largely ignored the situation, even though they were fully aware of it, but the TV station has now gotten the attention of the congress.  It costs the taxpayers 4.2 billion per year.  Watch the video on the link; it is very good.  Lots of information about this in a couple of areas of the web site if you search "tax loophole".   These folks did do a fine job and contacted everyone!  Nice to see a news organization actually doing their job (and telling the truth).

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INDIANAPOLIS -

More than three million people have watched WTHR's "Tax Loophole" investigation online within the past week, and many lawmakers are among them. Thursday in Washington, members of Congress debated the problem exposed by 13 Investigates.

Thursday was business as usual on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats and Republicans spent hours arguing and criticizing one another as they debated a controversial package of spending cuts known as House Resolution 5652.

But Thursday was also different. For the first time, House members debated whether to close a tax loophole that's providing big tax refunds to illegal immigrants. It's something Congressman Sam Johnson (R – TX) has been wanting to do for years.

"Due to a loophole in the tax code, the IRS is shoveling out billions on American tax dollars to those who are here illegally," said Rep. Johnson.

Bolstered by an Eyewitness News investigation, Rep. Johnson and other Republicans made their case for closing the loophole that is now making national news.

Two weeks ago, 13 Investigates showed how millions of illegal immigrants are taking advantage of tax credits intended for working families with children. WTHR's investigation documented how many undocumented workers file tax returns using an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) to claim thousands of dollars in Additional Child Tax Credits.

IRS tax code currently allows illegal immigrants to claim the fully-refundable tax credits as long as the children listed as dependents live in the United States and with the tax filer for at least six months of the year. Eyewitness News showed many undocumented workers are cheating the system by instead claiming nieces and nephews who live in other countries. The IRS issues them tax credits anyway because the agency does little to verify ITIN documentation.

According to an audit report by the U.S. Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration, the problem now costs American taxpayers $4.2 billion per year. The inspector general has been warning the IRS and Congress about the abuse since 2009, but most members of Congress seemed unaware of the problem – until now

Read more here:  http://www.wthr.com/story/18272744/house-lawmakers-debate-tax-looph...