Posted on 02/26/2016 2:22:17 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Donald Trump claims he can't release his tax returns until he's done being audited by the IRS. But the federal agency on Friday said that's not true.
"Federal privacy rules prohibit the IRS from discussing individual tax matters. Nothing prevents individuals from sharing their own tax information," a spokesperson for the IRS said in a statement.
The Republican presidential front-runner's refusal to release his tax documents came up repeatedly during Thursday's GOP debate, hours after former Republican nominee Mitt Romney suggested that Trump's reluctance stems from the possibility there might be a "bombshell" in his taxes.
"I want to [release them], except for many years, I've been audited every year," Trump said during the debate. "Twelve years, or something like that. Every year they audit me, audit me, audit me. Nobody gets audited - I have friends that are very wealthy people. They never get audited. I get audited every year. I will absolutely give my return, but I'm being audited now for two or three years, so I can't do it until the audit is finished, obviously. And I think people would understand that."
While the IRS claims nothing is preventing the billionaire from releasing the information, Steven Golburd, an attorney specializing in tax law, told the Washington Post Friday it may indeed be in Trump's best interest to keep them private.
"Think of an audit as an investigation, an on-going investigation," Goldburd said. "Any person that has legal counsel, their legal counsel will say, 'If you're under investigation, you should not be talking to the media, you should not be talking to anyone other than your legal counsel or through your legal counsel.'"
Trump doubled down on his refusal to release his returns during a campaign rally Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. The billionaire told the crowd that Romney didn't release his tax returns until Sept. 21, 2012 - less than two months before voters cast their ballots in the 2012 presidential election.
Yeah, release your returns in the middle of an audit so that when it ultimately gets amended, you get called a crook by your opponents.
Good idea.
The IRS should NOT be saying ANYTHING. They have no business confirming or denying any matter related to anyone’s taxes.
The only time any fact concerning taxes is made public is in a court where the testimony or documents are not under seal. And even under these circumstances, the IRS has no business making a public statement unless a person or company has been indicted or fined.
Very disturbing to see this news of the IRS making a statement in the political arena.
So Cruz wants to repeal the IRS, but before that he wants to use it to take out a political opponent?
The “best” candidates? You mean pathetic little itty bitty losers? Haha
It CERTAINLY worked in 1992 and 1996.
History is the best predictor of future events.
Is this the same IRS that Heidi’s Hubby wants to eradicate from the face of the Earth?
But he wants Trump to be subject and scrutinized by them?
Or is this another IRS??
LOL! Said the spider to the fly!
It’s a 2 or 3 year audit, releasing it to the public before the audit is complete would be stupid.
Go ahead IRS take a shot at The Donald.
Again I say after saying so many times. Judge a man by his enemies. The loudest critics are either running against him, or firmly interested in maintaining the status quo.
That gives me an Idea for a new tagline.
Instead of Zerogottago, Statusquogottago.
Trump never said it was against IRS rules to release tax returns during an audit. That’s a made-up meme from Trump-haters.
I hope he never releases them - unless, Bill Clinton releases his health records and Obama releases his transcripts from Columbia.
But just a one-time Super Bowl MVP.
Is this the same IRS that Lerner worked for and that targeted conservative groups and you believe them? Have you ever owned a company and been audited? The attorney and CPA advice is shut up. But whatever you can dig up, CW.
Yup. She undoubtedly has a lot of experience from digging up dirt on Palin.
You and Ted ‘IRS is the armor of God’ Cruz just love them folks now don’t you.
That was from Lois Lerner, the lady who taught us to trust the IRS.
No way if I had the threat of an audit would I release anything in public until the IRS first told me what IT was thinking.
Oh I’m sure the good folks at the IRS only have his best interests in mind. Trump will listen wisely listen to counsel.
Bill Clinton in 2012:
It's typical for presidential candidates to release 10 or 11 years of returns, Clinton says
Like Cincinatus’s Wife, the IRS has no credibility and is not trustworthy
Nothing prevents Cruz from releasing his CRBA.
Saw this coming a mile a way. Of course this IRS will enter a political campaign to try to sabotage it.
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