Undocumented immigrants contribute more than $15M in Maine taxes per year, study says
By WMTW
Published: Jul. 30, 2024 at 8:39 PM EDT|Updated: 12 hours ago
AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) - A new national study is shedding light on the economic contributions made by undocumented immigrants in Maine and throughout the United States.
The Maine Center for Economic Policy said the study conducted by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy revealed undocumented immigrants in Maine contributed $15.6 million in state and local taxes in 2022. According to the study, that number would be $19.8 million if the taxpayers were granted work authorization.
ITEP’s study indicates that in Maine, 31% of the tax contributions from undocumented immigrants are made through sales and excise taxes, while 38% are made through property taxes and 28% through personal or business income taxes.
“With a plateauing workforce and an aging population, Maine should welcome everyone who wants to work. What this report quantifies is what we’ve known all along: all immigrants, including those who are undocumented, contribute to Maine’s economy and to our public finances,” Garrett Martin, the president and CEO of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said in a statement.
https://www.wabi.tv/2024/07/31/undocumented-immigrants-contribute-more-than-15m-maine-taxes-per-year-study-says/