The New Yorker: Does Donald Trump Pay Any Income Taxes At All?

[VOX]

http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/does-donald-trump-pay-any-income-taxes-at-all

DOES DONALD TRUMP PAY ANY INCOME TAXES AT ALL?
By John Cassidy
Court documents and other public records show that Donald Trump paid no income tax in 1978, 1979, 1992, and 1994.
<snip>
Is it possible that Trump is also paying nothing in income tax? A number of journalists and tax experts who have looked at Trump’s finances think it may well be.

Last month, James Stewart, a Times columnist, wrote about Trump’s taxes, and compared him with Mitt Romney, who was criticized in 2012 for paying just $4.9 million in federal income tax. “No one should be surprised, though, if Donald J. Trump has paid far less—perhaps even zero federal income tax in some years,” Stewart wrote. “Indeed, that’s the expectation of numerous real estate and tax professionals I’ve interviewed in recent weeks.” These experts explained to Stewart that the federal tax code is so generous to real-estate developers—so stuffed with deductions, credits, and loopholes they can exploit—that it may well have allowed Trump to bring his taxable income down to nothing, or next to nothing. Which might help explain why he is so reluctant to release his tax returns.
<snip>
To be sure, the theory that Trump hasn’t paid any income taxes is just speculation. But it’s informed speculation based on knowledge of the tax laws and inspection of the limited information about Trump’s finances that is publicly available. And, of course, if Trump wants to put an end to this type of theorizing, he knows how to do it: put out those returns.

[Iliyah]

1. No. And reports like these are getting around

for Americans to read without the help of corporate media which seems to be shuck in never never land.

[randome]

2. Okay, say we accept that he "can't" show us his returns.

All he has to do is tell us how much income tax he paid for the past several years. But he won't do that, either.

I think, once we've come full around to the start again, that this will be the issue that sinks him. His "demand" for transparency for everyone but himself.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[tclambert]

4. How about his state tax returns? New York state isn't auditing him.

[randome]

5. Ha! That would be a good line of inquiry, too!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[duncang]

7. Putting a piece of tape on the floor and calling it a bar for him to get over is wrong.

And will only get you that if anything. He would be able to get away with just a statement of what he paid with out any documentation. He won't put out anything more then he thinks he can get by with. Unless his feet are held to the fire he will never put out anything of substance. Today was a perfect example of it. Seven seconds saying President Obama was born in the U.S.A.. No one will ever know if he made charitable contributions, makes as much as he says, are there conflicts of interest that people can't ignore? The only thing that should be acceptable by the American public is full release of at least the last 10 years of tax returns. And really if he had any back bone it he would match what the Clinton's have put out.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. Trump: "I could stand in Fifth Avenue and shoot someone and not lose a vote."

Do you really think his not paying taxes would make a difference? They'd just spin it as how great a businessman he is and how if you elect him you won't pay any taxes either.

[Plucketeer]

11. There ya go!

As LUDICROUS as it sounds, Mexico paying for our security might be a preview for financing of other projects. We might completely overhaul our infrastructure on someone else's dime - and eliminate the need for taxes! We rebuild all our hiways and ports and send the bill to the Chinese. After all, without these transportation facilities, they can't sell us anything!

[LuckyLib]

6. One would think this might piss off your average Repug Tea Bagger --

a billionaire paying no taxes. I think this is one of the reasons there is no release of returns -- the others are his ties with foreign funny money, bad loans, and dubious oligarchs who have "invested" in him as a shiny American toy. Behind the curtain of Trump $$$$$ is a whole lot of smoke and mirrors.

[SunSeeker]

8. Nope. nt

[Laf.La.Dem.]

9. "Only the little people pay taxes"

[Tikki]

10. I wonder if any of trumps kiddies have seen his tax returns?

Someone should ask one of his adult spawn if they have seen his tax returns
and are they under seal tied to his sealed divorce records from his ex~wives Ivana or Marla?

Just curious what the public might see in his tax returns...besides what could appear to be graft.


Tikki

[The Wizard]

12. Romnet is actually a successful businessman

Trump on the other hand is Max Bialystock with a hideous wig.

[etherealtruth]

13. I have believed this was likely all along ....

Even his slack jawed yokel racist deplorables may have second thoughts if they paid more in taxes with their job at the local Gas-N-Go than the short fingered vulgarian did.

This is not a jab at any job ... simply pointing out that a minimum (or close to minimum) wage earner has had the potential to pay more in taxes )