Donald Trump's Tax.

[Atheist]

What do ABers make of this? If he really paid only $750 as a year's tax, does that set a good example to US citizens?

[jim360]

The problem is that people who support Trump simply don't care, and never will. I should also say that Trump is not even the first time this has happened, and it's typical in history that this sort of person somehow gets away with murder because they seem to know how to appear to care for the common people. In reality, as always, they care only for themselves. Trump is merely the latest example of the populist disease.

[ToraToraTora]

jim, for Trump or anyone else I only care if it's evasion, no one has yet produced any evidence that it is.

[jim360]

I'm unqualified to answer that, and to be honest I don't really care one way or the other. It's just one of a thousand reasons to wish he'd never held office. But since he's blocked his tax returns from being investigated by anyone for four years, lied about why, and fought at every level of the US legal system, I would be amazed if they are squeaky clean. Even if it shows that he's merely a con man, rather than a criminal, it would still be interesting -- the man has built his reputation on having a fine business record, but that's almost certainly a con (if not legally then morally, at least), built on mountains of debt and on inheritance from his father. The biggest blow to Trump, I expect, would be the revelation that he's actually a failure, and therefore will go down in history as the textbook example of a man who fails ever further upwards.

[tamborine]

Trump has hotels around the world incl the Towers in 4 states. He has to pay tax for all his staff plus on his net income. Trump pays more tax thru his businesses than any other president.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_things_named_after_Donald_Trump

[ToraToraTora]

surely tax returns are public documents, do they not have an official way of getting that data from the IRS?

[royfromaus]

Atheist
Roy, so you think that Trump being legal trumps honesty, truthfulness and decency?
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andy....ANDY
Where are you in my hour of need?

[ToraToraTora]

surely if there was any evasion the IRS would be all over it.

[royfromaus]

jim360
The problem is that people who support Trump simply don't care, and never will.
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All of them?

[tamborine]

In UK only limited companies tax returns are public and theyre 'cooked'. Dont know about USA

[ToraToraTora]

they are not crooked, they optimise under the rules. Any government simply has to change the rules if they don't want avoidance.

[Ellipsis]

He's the President! He's like a tinpot dictator.

[tamborine]

ttt the expression is 'cooked books'. Accountants do well at it ;)

[Togo]

If you read the actual article it does say "Trump paid, as in transferred to the US Treasury, $1 million in 2016 and $4.2 million in 2017. Note also that most of the overpayment was rolled forward, not refunded. The $750 figure is an additional $750 to what was paid when Trump took office. Haha

Don't let fact spoil your wet dreams though.

[ToraToraTora]

22:02, if they were "crooked" - ie illegal, then they be prosecuted. They simply optimise within the rules. If the authorities don't like that then they can change the rules.

[royfromaus]

I'm going to assume when the Dems get in they are going to close all the loopholes that allow this to happen...


?

[tamborine]

not crooked but cooked. ie buy in bulk with extras for contract & retail @ 100% profit. Every pub does it.

[Khandro]

It isn't the full picture of course, (go figure American tax laws) but if it was, it would demonstrate once again that Donald is smarter than the average bear.

[Ellipsis]

A normal citizen may see it as perfectly ok to avoid paying taxes. But when the President does it, for years, including while he's President, it says something about his attitude to his civic duty, don't you think? Take, not give. Look after number one. Make Donald rich again.

Perhaps when his poorest working supporters realise he's paid less tax than they have for years, it will make a difference. But I doubt it.

[royfromaus]

Perhaps when his poorest working supporters realise he's paid less tax than they have for years, it will make a difference. But I doubt it.
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How do you work that one out?

[Ellipsis]

I expect him to win the election.