Protect Immigrant Taxpayer Eligibility for the Child Tax Credit

Honorable Max Baucus, Chair
Committee on Finance
U.S. Senate 219
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable Sander Levin, Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
U.S. House of Representatives
1106 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Baucus and Chairman Levin:

We strongly urge you to reject a Republican proposal that would make working families who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service ineligible for the Child Tax Credit as a means to pay for their tax package. Such a drastic change in tax policy could prohibit approximately two million immigrant families from claiming the Child Tax Credit, a devastating impact that will fall heavily on children, most of whom are U.S. citizens who the tax credit is intended to benefit.

The Child Tax Credit has effectively kept families out of poverty. Eliminating access to this credit for low-income families struggling in today’s economy will greatly increase our nation’s hungry and homeless, severely impact their communities, and further hinder economic recovery.

Children of immigrants now comprise nearly one quarter of the nation’s child population. Already, these children disproportionately live in poverty. Please protect immigrant taxpayer eligibility for the Child Tax Credit.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Click here to see a list of all organizations that signed this letter, including FCNL.