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Originally Posted by Laurence
If only I could get these people to use my SS and pump up my benefit numbers, esecially if/when I quit working before 62!  |
While in law school, I volunteered a lot completing federal tax returns for Spanish speaking migrants primarily from Mexico. Sometimes I couldn't help but laugh. They would come in with W-2's from 4-5 full time jobs (earnings of $50k-60k sometimes for washing dishes or bussing tables) at different places in the state, all under the same SS number. Presumably, they had allowed a couple of their amigos to use their SS number to get employed. Then they were shocked to find out that they had a huge tax liability for all the earnings at a high marginal rate.
Another trick I saw was the folks who would claim 10 withholding allowances on their W-4 so that no tax was withheld. Then comes tax time, and they owe a huge amount of taxes. Sure, they might be supporting 10 family members in mexico, but each dependent had to have an ITIN or SSN in order to claim them on the federal tax return. I think they would get me to fill out their tax forms and then leave and trash them, knowing they couldn't pay their tax bills (sometimes $3000-4000).
Then there's the fellow who I was able to get a few thousand dollar refund for. Him and his wife were so happy they kept hugging me and insisted I take a $20 tip for completing their taxes. (I donated it to the latino community center where we were preparing taxes).
Many paid their taxes though because it is an important step in obtaining permanent residency and citizenship.
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