If Trump Won’t Release Tax Returns, His Delegates Should Abstain on First Ballot

[ABX]

We don't hear much about first ballot voting abstention but it is available to some bound delegates.

Ronald Reagan famously said that “trust, but verify” was the proper way to deal with someone who has a record of credibility problems. Republicans need to adopt Reagan’s approach as Donald Trump moves closer to the Republican nomination. A political party that didn’t demand the public release of Donald Trump’s tax returns could be committing electoral suicide.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/432326/donald-trump-tax-returns-must-be-released

[EC]

Sorry, just no.

Despite my intense dislike of Trump - where, exactly, is it required that candidates release their tax returns? I know it has become customary, thanks to the MSM who love to pick nits and gossip instead of bothering with facts. I'd be slightly more impressed with any candidate who told the first reporter to ask "when they are releasing their tax returns" to "Take a long walk off a short pier."

[Jazzhead]

Excellent find.   First ballot abstentions may be a vehicle for denying Trump a first ballot victory even if he ostensibly has a majority of the delegates.

The GOP is not bound to commit suicide.  The delegates, who are typically long-time party loyalists,  will be focused on electability far more so than primary voters. 
 

[AnybodyButaDem]

He's being audited.  He'd have to be a moron to release his tax returns to the media.  His tax attorneys surely are advising against such stupidity.

Maybe he's not a moron after all?  Seems like the moron is whoever wrote that stupid hit piece.

[AnybodyButaDem]

Excellent find.   First ballot abstentions may be a vehicle for denying Trump a first ballot victory even if he ostensibly has a majority of the delegates.

The GOP is not bound to commit suicide.  The delegates, who are typically long-time party loyalists,  will be focused on electability far more so than primary voters.

Trump has an LLC and numerous business interests.

Cruz and Kasich have lived off of taxpayers most of their lives, except for Kasich's stellar stint as a Managing Director at Lehman Bros where he "learned" how to drive a business into bankruptcy.  How complicated is it to leech off of taxpayers?

Speaking of that, why is it Kasich didn't release his tax returns from his Lehman days and conveniently released his only back to when he rejoined the public sector???   

[ABX]

He's being audited.  He'd have to be a moron to release his tax returns to the media.  His tax attorneys surely are advising against such stupidity.

Maybe he's not a moron after all?  Seems like the moron is whoever wrote that stupid hit piece.

IRS: Trump can release tax returns, regardless of audit - http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/02/26/donald-trump-internal-revenue-service-audits/80996086/

Trump’s Tax Lawyers Say 2002-2008 Returns No Longer Under Audit - http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-31/trump-s-tax-lawyers-say-2002-2008-returns-no-longer-under-audit

Donald Trump Can Legally Release Tax Returns Despite Being Audited ‘Unfairly’ - http://www.ibtimes.com/donald-trump-can-legally-release-tax-returns-despite-being-audited-unfairly-2326297

[cato potatoe]

He's being audited.  He'd have to be a moron to release his tax returns to the media.  His tax attorneys surely are advising against such stupidity.

Maybe he's not a moron after all?  Seems like the moron is whoever wrote that stupid hit piece.

What harm comes from releasing the returns that were filed?  The IRS already has every single page and schedule.  Do you think somebody has access to contradictory source documents and will rat him out for cheating?

I've read the excuse that tax professionals could nitpick the returns, inform the IRS, and cost him money.  They could do that to any candidate. 

At minimum, Trump could release the IRS form letter indicating the year(s) under examination.  The voters aren't going to accept his evasion for the next six and a half months. 

[Frank Cannon]

He's being audited.  He'd have to be a moron to release his tax returns to the media.  His tax attorneys surely are advising against such stupidity.

Maybe he's not a moron after all?  Seems like the moron is whoever wrote that stupid hit piece.

Nice spin Carling. We have voting histories and policy statements to see what type of leaders Cruz and Kasich will be. It's called vetting.

The only thing we have for Trump is his business history and financial strength to look at. He brags about it constantly as his purpose for being elected. Since that is the case he needs to release his tax returns to show he is who he says he is. Since the IRS has stated that he can release his records even under audit, why doesn't he? Because it will show that he is a fraud and that he isn't worth a fraction of what he claims. It will also show that he doesn't own 99% of what he claims to own.

Only the simple minded trust politicians words. Trump is now a politician. What does that make his supporters?

[For-Q-Clinton]

Sorry, just no.

Despite my intense dislike of Trump - where, exactly, is it required that candidates release their tax returns? I know it has become customary, thanks to the MSM who love to pick nits and gossip instead of bothering with facts. I'd be slightly more impressed with any candidate who told the first reporter to ask "when they are releasing their tax returns" to "Take a long walk off a short pier."

Actually this is fair.  He promised to release them so voters voted expecting that the forms would be released, but he lied.  So the delegates should say release them or we won't vote for you.

[cato potatoe]

The disturbing part of this claim is the periods under audit (2009-2014).  The IRS can not extend the statute of limitations for assessment beyond 3 years unless they believe you have omitted more than 25% of your income, filed a false or fraudulent return, or willfully evaded taxes.   

[For-Q-Clinton]

The disturbing part of this claim is the periods under audit (2009-2014).  The IRS can not extend the statute of limitations for assessment beyond 3 years unless they believe you have omitted more than 25% of your income, filed a false or fraudulent return, or willfully evaded taxes.

Winner-Winner-Chicken Dinner!

But no one asks Trump that.  Of course it doesn't mean he has omitted it...just that the IRS thinks he has.  With the IRS being corrupt, the media corrupt,  and Trump being corrupt...I don't know who to believe.

[AnybodyButaDem]

IRS: Trump can release tax returns, regardless of audit - http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/02/26/donald-trump-internal-revenue-service-audits/80996086/

Of course he CAN.  There is no law against it.  Trump has never claimed otherwise.

Trump’s Tax Lawyers Say 2002-2008 Returns No Longer Under Audit - http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-31/trump-s-tax-lawyers-say-2002-2008-returns-no-longer-under-audit

Awesome.  So can Kasich!!

Donald Trump Can Legally Release Tax Returns Despite Being Audited ‘Unfairly’ - http://www.ibtimes.com/donald-trump-can-legally-release-tax-returns-despite-being-audited-unfairly-2326297

Yes, this is basically a duplicate of your first post.  Again, there is no law against it, but any tax attorney worth their shingle would advise against it.

What a gigantic waste of a post that proved nothing that isn't already known.

[AnybodyButaDem]

What harm comes from releasing the returns that were filed?  The IRS already has every single page and schedule.  Do you think somebody has access to contradictory source documents and will rat him out for cheating?

I've read the excuse that tax professionals could nitpick the returns, inform the IRS, and cost him money.  They could do that to any candidate. 

At minimum, Trump could release the IRS form letter indicating the year(s) under examination.  The voters aren't going to accept his evasion for the next six and a half months.

Romney didn't release his until after the GOP convention.

The only reason this is an issue is because his two GOPe opponents are taxpayer-funded politicians who wouldn't know how to get a private sector job on their own without using political connections, like Kasich did.

[cato potatoe]

Romney's 2011 return was not completed until September of 2012.  This is typical, if not a bit early, for large returns.  He released his 2010 return in January of 2012.  Why can't Trump release his 2014 return now?