The Trump administration has proposed adding a citizenship question to US tax forms. Taxpayers would disclose their citizenship and work authorisation status to the IRS. The proposal was reported on October 1.

The draft 2026 Form 1040 was posted in late August. It asks: are you, and your spouse if filing jointly, a US citizen, US national, or an alien lawfully authorised to work in the US? Filers would check Yes or No. A draft Schedule 3-A for refundable tax credits asks a similar question.

The questions would not be optional. Every filer must certify their status under penalty of law. The Treasury says the move will stop ineligible migrants from claiming refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Officials say it could save taxpayers up to 2 billion dollars.

Critics warn the data could be used for immigration enforcement. The Treasury did not say whether the information would be shared with immigration authorities. An appeals court has upheld an order blocking the IRS from sharing taxpayer data with ICE.