Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too

Today, Oregon Center for Public Policy released a report, Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too (PDF). OCPP does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. Their goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians.

Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too

It's essential that Oregonians recognize the important contribution undocumented workers make to our state's economy. Undocumented immigrants perform vital work in certain industries. Together they earn roughly $2.3 billion to $4.5 billion a year, much of it undoubtedly spent on goods and services purchased from Oregon businesses. And beside labor and purchasing power, undocumented immigrants contribute to Oregon's economy in the form of taxes.

This issue brief updates OCPP's estimates of tax contributions by undocumented Oregon workers. Specifically, OCPP estimates (1) how much undocumented workers pay in state and local income, property and excise taxes; and (2) how much they pay in federal Social Security and Medicare taxes. In addition, we estimate the taxes paid by employers in the name of undocumented workers. These include the employer's share of Social Security and Medicare taxes and the amount employers pay in state Unemployment Insurance taxes in the name of undocumented workers.

Dowload a copy of this issue brief:
Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too (PDF)

Estimated annual tax contributions of undocumented workers in Oregon
Estimated number of undocumented immigrants in Oregon	110,000 – 220,000
Estimated total annual income of undocumented workers	$2.3 billion to $4.5 billion
Total of estimated taxes paid by undocumented workers:	$154 million to $309 million
State and local income, excise and property taxes	$68 million to $136 million
Social Security taxes	$70 million to $140 million
Medicare taxes	$16 million to $33 million
Total of estimated taxes paid by Oregon employers in the name of undocumented workers:	$121 million to $243 million
State Unemployment Insurance taxes	$35 million to $70 million
Social Security taxes	$70 million to $140 million
Medicare taxes	$16 million to $33 million

continue reading>> http://www.ocpp.org/2012/01/25/iss20120120undocumented-workers-are-taxpayers-too/
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Related materials:
Read the 2007 version of Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too, also available in Spanish (PDF)

Posted in: Oregon Center for Public Policy,Report