Gus Bilirakis Looks to Close Tax Loophole Used by Illegal Immigrants

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is looking to ensure illegal aliens are not able to receive federal tax refunds using the child tax credit. Bilirakis brought out the Stop Handouts to Unauthorized Taxpayers (SHUT) Act on Friday. The new bill would ensure everyone claiming refunds under the child tax credit has to prove their eligibility to work in the U.S. by providing a Social Security number or other proof of legal residence.

Effective immigration reform requires enforcing the borders and removing the incentives for illegal immigration, Bilirakis said on Friday. It is also vital we stop wasteful and fraudulent spending, to get our nations fiscal course back on track. The SHUT Act achieves both of those goals.

The SHUT Act is a positive step to end this waste of taxpayer money, and ensure the refundable child tax credit is there for the people it is meant to help: low-income families, Bilirakis added.

Bilirakis pointed to a report from the Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) that illegal immigrants garnered $4.2 billion in child tax credits in 2010 as a reason his bill is needed.