TI have United States Supreme Court recently decided that Puerto Ricans do not have a constitutional right to Extra Security Incomewhich is available to residents over 65, blind or disabled.
Puerto Rico considered an insular territory of the United States and Puerto Ricans are US citizens, but as Judge Brett Kavanaugh emphasized a few days ago, some US residents are not required to pay certain federal income taxes.
“When developing tax and preferential programs, it is advisable Congress consider the overall balance of benefits and burdens for Puerto Ricans,” Cavanaugh wrote.
“Wherein Congress there is no need to make a dollar comparison of how his tax programs and benefits are applied in the States compared to the territories, both on an individual and collective level.
“Just as not every federal tax applies to residents Puerto Ricoand not every federal benefit program applies to residents Puerto Rico.”
Meanwhile, Judge Sonia Sotomayor demanded equal treatment for all US citizens, stating that Puerto Ricans have no representation in Congress.
“Equal treatment of citizens should not be left to the political process,” she said.
“Because the inhabitants of Puerto Rico do not have voting representation in Congressthey cannot rely on their elected representatives to eliminate the punitive inequalities suffered by citizens living in Puerto Rico under Congress“unequal treatment”.
Do Puerto Ricans pay federal taxes?
Puerto Ricans pay federal taxes, but most do not contribute to income tax, which only Puerto Rico residents who work for the federal government, those who serve in the US military, others who earn money outside the country, and those who work with the federal government. However, Puerto Rico residents pay customs, federal taxes on goods and payroll.