Bill would let DHS request tax data on ITIN holders from IRS

What does this do?

HR 8920 would amend Section 6103 of the tax code to allow the Department of Homeland Security to submit written requests to the IRS for personal information about Individual Taxpayer Identification Number holders. That information could include names, addresses, filing status, and details about spouses or adult dependents listed on a return. This would be a significant departure from longstanding IRS rules that protect all taxpayer data from being shared with law enforcement for non-tax purposes.

Who does it affect?

ITIN holders would be most directly affected, a group that includes undocumented immigrants, some legal residents, foreign nationals with U.S. income, and others ineligible for a Social Security number. People who share a tax return with an ITIN holder, such as spouses or adult dependents, could also have their information shared. U.S. citizens who file using Social Security numbers would not be affected.

Why does it matter?

The bill's stated purpose is immigration enforcement, and information obtained from the IRS could be used to identify and locate individuals for immigration proceedings. The bill's findings also assert that ITIN holders have used the numbers to obtain home loans, which the authors claim has contributed to rising housing costs, though this framing is the bill authors' own and not an independent finding.

Where does it stand?