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.
Or perhaps just a bold faced lie.
Trump's tax return would be exhibit #1 why the IRS and the tax code should be scrapped.
I'm sure in there, Trump's accountants use the tax code to their benefit.
Even if released right now, we'd have battling accountants over the tax returns who couldn't agree whether the forms were filled out properly.
The tax code is written to make criminals of us all.
I still don’t get it.
Why would he or anyone release them? its invasion of privacy.
He should sue Rommney for Libel for stating that there might be a ‘bombshell’ in them, show the Taxes to a judge in a sealed court, win the case and then go Ha... ha! to every one else.
And you think that is intelligent?
YOU ma'am, are acting foolish and emotional, not logical.
He should not release his taxes, there is nothing but downside. Libs always want to see taxes so they can mine for small nuggets they can spin into a negative story.
I could care less what he has on his taxes.
Are you drunk?
Maybe CW will get a finder’s fee for a competing corporation to something/some contract in Trump’s tax information.
I really have nothing to reach for. I do not have one dog in this race. Quite frankly I was disgusted with all but two of the candidates last night Ben Carson and boring Kasich.
Of the 5 candidates I could actually support three, Cruz (though my support for him is starting to fade), Trump or Ben Carson.
No offence but Rubio’s an Amnesty loving RINO and Kasich annoys me.
So, if you consider my lack of trust in the IRS as “just reaching” so be it.
The Donald can make this go away be simply releasing his Taxes from THOSE YEARS THAT ARE NOT under audit!
And then there is this, The Donald says that he has been audited for 12 straight years,which is VERY irregular.
Good analogy, but you're wasting your time with that poster.
She's all emotion, totally devoid of logic.
I think Romney’s pulling a page out of Harry Reid’s playbook.
Not surprising. What does surprise me is that there are some here who are grasping onto that same page.
Why is the IRS Commenting on this?
Is the Department of Educations out there saying nothing is preventing Obama from sharing his College Records?
There is nothing to keep him from releasing them NOW as all other candidates have done.
Not so, huge companies get audited all the time, that's why they have so many attorney's on staff.
Think what they would do to him if he didn't donate to EVERYBODY, Bill Gates learned it the HARD way.
I thought the IRS did this on its own.
OOPS, “Department of Educations”, LOL
Trump said that on advise of council not to release tax returns until audit is finished.
Any lawyer worth anything would give the same advise.
I thought I recognized you... Obama! You need to get a new schtick the lipstick on a pig is old.
Trump Isn’t a fool and uses his attorney’s advice.
So much so that you can't even argue with rational, intelligent words, all you can do is show your bitter, angry childish side.
By all means, carry on.
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