The IRS is considering a new arrangement that would help ICE confirm addresses of illegal immigrants already ordered to leave the country, using information from tax forms filed with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Under the current plan, ICE would not be allowed full access to IRS records. Instead, DHS officials would send a person’s name, removal date and suspected address to the IRS, which would then confirm whether that address matches what the individual listed on their tax return. These requests would be limited to the highest levels of immigration enforcement leadership — specifically Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raked in a record $4.9 trillion in taxes from Americans in the last fiscal year, per the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 8, 2024
For years, the IRS has maintained that taxpayer information is strictly protected. But recent changes at the top of the agency have revived talks that had previously stalled. Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O’Donnell had blocked a major request from Homeland Security, then left the agency. His successor, Melanie Krause, has reportedly been more open to working with ICE.
🚨🇺🇸 IRS NEARING DEAL TO SHARE TAX DATA WITH ICE FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
The IRS is close to finalizing a data-sharing agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing immigration agents access to confidential taxpayer records to aid Trump’s… https://t.co/IUo23cMDvv pic.twitter.com/9siwDZeUNX
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2025
The draft agreement, portions of which were obtained by The Washington Post, makes clear that the information checks would apply only to individuals with final orders of removal. The verification would also be limited to those classified as being under investigation for violating immigration laws.
Many illegal immigrants file taxes each year, providing the IRS with information about their jobs, earnings and residences. They are able to do this without a Social Security number using an ITIN issued by the agency. The IRS has previously promised not to share this data with immigration enforcement to ensure continued compliance with tax law.
IRS personnel familiar with the matter have warned that the deal could stretch the limits of federal tax privacy rules, which typically allow sharing only in connection with criminal cases. Some career staff believe the move could undermine confidence in the tax system.
The IRS has also been approached in the past about supporting immigration enforcement by auditing businesses suspected of employing illegal immigrants.
