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.
Ok, I get it now. He's a liar......flip flopped.
Are you sane?
>>>There is nothing to keep him from releasing them NOW as all other candidates have done<<<
They have? Haven’t seen any. Is Bernie’s a 1040 EZ?
As my Father used to say regarding Peer Pressure, would you jump off a Cliff because your Friends jumped off a Cliff?
Trump is a liar......., but he is your liar.
Okay, fair enough. So what is wrong with the statement the IRS released? It doesn't seem to contradict anything Trump said. And can we assume that Trump will soon release the returns for the years for which the audits have been completed?
"While the IRS claims nothing is preventing the billionaire from releasing the information, Steven Golburd, an attorney ..."
But I suspect Ted actually knows better, so he simply proved yet again he is slimely lying politician.
I agree completely and it was worth saying twice.
Cruz has surprised me lately, until recently he was my second choice.
But don’t forget they’re auditing him because he’s such a staunch committed Christian.
Nobody else gets audited. Nobody. Nobody.
I know someone who got audited but he was a nobody so, yeah, right.
All candidates have not not released their tax returns. Romney also called on Rubio and Cruz to release theirs.
This does not surprise me at all. They are very afraid of a President Trump.
I have a question.
Is anyone here who says Trump should release his Income Tax Information siding with Apple about refusing to Unlock the DEAD MURDERING TERRORIST’S iPhone?
Just asking...
What has that to do with Trump? He claims to be out in the open about everything.
There is definitely something either very embarrassing or criminal in there.
Look I don't care if he does or doesn't, but he talks out of both sides of his mouth continuously. He is a reflection Hillary Clinton.
I thought Cruz said he was going to release his today.
Trump ... the only thing I can say about Trump is that as far as I know he’s never murdered anyone and I’m pretty sure Hillary has.
So, there’s that.
Why do you want Cruz to release his?
I thought it wasn’t important to “You People.”
I don’t like Trump, but the IRS interjecting at this point is highly suspicious .
I dont give a sh*t about this issue. But Cruz made a big deal about it last night and he said he would do it today.
I am just wondering if the Great Mr Honest Conservative kept his word or not.
I really do not believe that you are that ignorant.
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