The Trump administration has proposed requiring U.S. tax filers to disclose citizenship and work-authorization status to the IRS on annual tax forms, according to reports. The IRS posted a draft 2026 Form 1040 in late August containing the proposed question.
The draft asks whether the filer and, for joint returns, their spouse are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or an alien authorized to work in the United States. It provides yes-or-no boxes for each person. Administration officials say the requirement would help prevent immigrants without permanent legal status from receiving ineligible federal benefits and could save up to $2 billion.
David Bier of the Cato Institute said taxpayer and privacy advocates fear the information could be used for immigration enforcement and deportations. The reports describe the change as a proposal.