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.
Trump’s legal responsibilities to the IRS are no one else’s business.
So then what did the IRS say that bothered you?
Another nothing burger that counts towards your daily quota.
Hope you have a happy Super Tuesday :)
Sorry for the multiple posts. Suddenly everything got stuck and I tried to get off.
Only a real moron would believe that Trump was saying the FBI wouldn’t allow him to release his returns. Haha
Nope. Just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy.
Remember all of those articles saying that Hawaii could not release Obama's birth certificate and that the military could not release John Kerry's military records because they are legally private? In either case, all it would have taken was for them to simply give their consent. I don't recall that little fact ever making it into the lamestream media.
So nothing prevents Trump from sharing his tax documents. Fine, he should announce that he will do so as soon as Obama releases any one of the long list of documents that are entirely within Obama's control but that Obama refuses to allow ever see the light of day.
I haven’t picked my candidate yet....but, sheesh....can we get the tax returns of everyone in THIS administration FIRST! Including IRS officials!
Another day another Trump lie.
Huckabee recommended Trump not to release any at all. He had personally experience with this. He thought he was smart to release 20 years of his tax return and that he would get credit for his generosity from the media and political opponents. Instead they nitpick his to death and turn many positives into negatives by lying about what was in it. “Never load the gun that someone who has pointed at you”
Beside, according to Reid, Romney never released his. Romney only released a summary of his tax return. Romney really sunk so low
“Nope. Just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy.”
Ok. But if Obama didn’t have to, why should Trump? Is that what you are saying? I hope your standards for a President are a little higher than that.
I'm just not sure what the objection is here. The IRS did not say anything negative about Trump. They just clarified that there was no prohibition on their end that would prevent Trump from releasing his returns.
Of course, Trump COULD release the returns that have already been audited. But he won't. He has flip-flopped on his promise, and he got mad at Hewitt when he got called on the flip-flop. I don't know if there is anything embarrassing in his returns or not, but his refusing to release them and hiding behind the IRS sure makes it LOOK like he is hiding something.
That will only leave a mark on Trump. It will only antagonize his cult.
Uh yeah, intelligence prevents him from doing it.
What a stupid comment, he's supposed to over ride his attorney for the likes of you??
Bwwwaaaaahhhahahahaha
Only a bigger moron would bring the FBI into the discussion when they were never mentioned...
Gee, ya think??
And the IRS will never lie or try to entrap you.
Any lawyer worth 2 corinthians would know better.
The mere fact that the IRS injected this into the debate is an egregious assault on our free elections.
I would bet money that, should Trump actually win the GE (highly unlikely)....he would pull a Barack and seal all of his records on the first day. He’d be just as non-transparent (or anti-transparent) as Obama. Maybe even more so, if that’s even possible.
As for releasing his tax records, he will stall and delay and deflect until it is no longer an issue....one way or another.
Always nice to have the government weigh in on elections.
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