Here’s what Trump ordered.
The Internal Revenue Service is reportedly considering a major change to federal tax forms that could require taxpayers to disclose whether they are American citizens, according to multiple reports from officials familiar with internal discussions.
The proposal is said to be under review as President Donald Trump’s administration continues pushing for tougher immigration enforcement and greater coordination between federal agencies.
According to sources briefed on the matter, IRS officials are examining two possible versions of next year’s Form 1040 — the standard form millions of Americans use each year to file federal taxes.
One draft reportedly includes only routine updates tied to tax law changes. Another version would add a new checkbox asking filers whether they are non-U.S. citizens or dual citizens.
The Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, declined to comment publicly on the reported discussions.
Under existing federal law, non-citizens living and working in the United States are generally still required to file tax returns if they earn income. They currently use the same federal tax forms as American citizens.
The possible change has already sparked debate over immigration policy, government transparency, and taxpayer privacy.
Supporters of the proposal argue that the federal government should maintain clearer records regarding citizenship status, especially as concerns over border security and federal benefits remain major political issues ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Critics, however, warn that adding citizenship questions to tax forms could discourage compliance and create new concerns surrounding privacy and the handling of sensitive taxpayer information.
The discussions also come after months of legal battles involving cooperation between the IRS and immigration authorities.
Throughout 2025, the Trump administration explored ways for the Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department to share certain taxpayer data as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts.
That effort faced a setback after a federal judge blocked the IRS from sharing confidential taxpayer information with immigration officials last November. The administration has since appealed the ruling.
Court filings earlier this year also revealed that the IRS mistakenly shared information connected to more than 42,000 taxpayers with the Department of Homeland Security, intensifying scrutiny over how federal agencies manage sensitive records.
At this point, no final decision has been announced regarding whether the citizenship disclosure question will officially appear on future tax forms.
Still, the possibility alone has already triggered intense reactions from both supporters and critics of President Trump’s immigration agenda.
With border security expected to remain one of the defining political battles heading into the next election, any IRS policy tied to citizenship verification is likely to draw major national attention.