Immigrant Families and Taxes: Why It’s Important to File a Tax Return

IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND TAXES
Why It’s Important to File a Tax Return!

FEBRUARY 2016 | Versión en español

You work hard to support your family. Here are three reasons you should file a federal and state tax return in 2016 for wages earned in 2015.

  1. When you file a tax return, you are complying with the law. Regardless of your status, if your income is above a certain amount (for example, $10,300 if you are single and under 65 or $20,600 if you are married and both spouses are under 65), you must file a tax return. In general, all information that you provide on your tax return is confidential, and won’t be shared with other agencies or individuals.
  2. You may be eligible for a tax refund, as well as valuable tax credits like the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child Care Tax Credit, or Premium Tax Credit to help you pay for health insurance. And you may be eligible for other state tax credits as well! For more information, visit www.nwlc.org/loweryourtaxes.
  3. You are helping to document information that can be useful in future immigration proceedings—like income, residence in the U.S., “good moral character,” and whether you are married.

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