Texas immigrant tax revenue threatened by Trump-era IRS policy
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Immigrants in Texas contribute billions in tax revenue, though such contributions could be at risk under a Trump-era policy that allows immigration authorities to access IRS data.
Why it matters: The agreement could deter immigrants from filing taxes, and the Trump administration's overall crackdown on immigration could result in fewer immigrants in the U.S. to bolster the tax base.
Catch up quick: The IRS has agreed to share personal information from undocumented taxpayers with immigration authorities in criminal investigations, per a recent court filing.
The big picture: About 47.8 million immigrants nationwide paid nearly $652 billion in taxes last year, per the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit advocacy group that compiled findings based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.
- Undocumented immigrants paid nearly $90 million — despite being ineligible for most public benefits.
In Texas, over 5.4 million immigrants paid about $58 billion, or $10,675 per person.
- Immigrants make up 18% of Texas' population and 22% of the labor force.
Zoom in: Mexico (45%) is the top country of origin for immigrant Texans, followed by India (7%) and El Salvador (4%).
- Nearly 500,000 immigrant entrepreneurs in Texas generated $15.3 billion in income in 2023.
- 22 Fortune 500 companies in Texas were founded by immigrants or their children.