Exclusive: More than 100 lawsuits, disputes, tied to Trump and his companies

[TomCADem]

Source: USA Today

While Donald J. Trump refuses to release his federal tax returns, saying his tax rate is “none of your business,” a USA TODAY analysis found Trump’s businesses have been involved in at least 100 lawsuits and other disputes related to unpaid taxes or how much tax his businesses owe.

Trump’s companies have been engaged in battles over taxes almost every year from the late 1980s until as recently as March, the analysis of court cases, property records, and other documents across the country shows. At least five Trump companies were issued warrants totaling more than $13,000 for late or unpaid taxes in New York state just since Trump declared his candidacy in June 2015, according to state records. This spring, as Trump flew to campaign rallies around the country aboard his trademark private jet, the state of New York filed a tax warrant to try to collect $8,578 in unpaid taxes from the Trump-owned company that owns the Boeing 757. The company has since paid that tax bill.

As recently as last week, Trump said he was “willing to pay more” taxes personally and that “taxes for the rich will go up somewhat” if he becomes president. But the lawsuits and other tax-related disputes show a different reality for his businesses. They illustrate a pattern of systematically disputing tax bills, arguing for lower property assessments, and in some cases not paying taxes until the government takes additional action. At least three dozen times, Trump companies’ unpaid tax bills have forced the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to go to local courts to get liens against his properties to try to collect overdue bills. New Jersey also had to go to court for a lien to collect a Trump company’s unpaid tax bill. Eventually, those disputes were resolved, and his companies paid some amount of taxes.

The disputes surrounding Trump’s business taxes are uncharted territory for the presidential nominee of a major party. The GOP’s 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, also had extensive business interests as the leader of a private-equity fund. But Trump has a network of complicated real estate and other investments, and some of the tax disputes are ongoing.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/05/19/trumps-tax-troubles/84543538/

[PJMcK]

1. Drip... Drip... Drip... (n/t)

[Egnever]

7. Yup the shit hasn't even begun to hit the fan yet.

So far it has all been mostly self inflicted damage. Next up the real OP research.

Going to be a fun ride!

[radical noodle]

2. This is not a money saving strategy

Every time there's an unpaid tax (state, local, federal, sales or whatever else) there is almost certainly a large added penalty in addition to the interest. Granted the interest isn't that much and might be used as a way to hang on to money longer, but the penalty is usually not even close to cost effective.

I think Trump has some money problems that he's hiding... his financial statements may well be lies and his tax forms will prove that.

[Journeyman]

3. I wish the headline had detailed these are for tax issues . . .

Before I opened the article, I had almost dismissed the issue, since a corporation as large as Trump's must contend with 100s of lawsuits every year, everything from personal injury claims to complaints that the hors' d'oeuvres were inadequate for a wedding.

But tax suits? That's a different beast, one the majority of Americans will readily see is an issue worth consideration.

[olddad56]

4. Maybe he will be the first Presidential candidate ever to go to prison for income tax evasion.

[world wide wally]

5. If he's talking (which is constantly) he is lying

I think he is property rich and cash poor. He floats one loan to pay another because he has a lot of collateral. If he had to pay everything at once, he would probably come up short.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Lots of non-tax lawsuits too launched by Trump; pattern of bullying. . . nt

[dmosh42]

8. Never heard this from our Kissing ass heroes on MSNBC!