On Trump's tax returns, many unanswered questions

Trump's tax returns hold the promise of information about his business entanglements, relationships with foreign creditors and governments, whether he has been truthful in reporting the value of his assets, and whether he got a personal windfall from the 2017 tax bill.

Yes, yes, no, and yes.....

Thanks to reporting this week from The New York Times, which was given copies of summaries of Trump's tax returns from 1985 to 1994, we know that Trump, a developer and real estate investor in Manhattan, suffered enormous business losses over that period. Those losses exceeded $1.1 billion, according to the Times, from bad investments such as now-defunct Eastern Air Lines and the Trump Taj Mahal hotel and casino in Atlantic City.

Hah! The bubble has been burst! Trump is "The Biggest Loser"... A totally incompetent businessman... Who would've thought...

And paid not a cent of tax for eight years that we know of. That's going to go over real well with the blue collar faithful who paid their taxes every year...

Get the rest of his returns - find out everything else this loser is hiding...

The man literally lost over a hundred million dollars a year for a decade... that's levels of patheticness than even television couldn't script.

Might be relevant if we were not talking about 1985 to 1994. Also if the Times had enough details to even answer  details to answer basic, obvious questions. Which it doesn’t.

@blaclabl Also if the Times had enough details to even answer details to answer basic, obvious questions. Which it doesn’t.

Who, besides Trump's highly paid armies of accountants, lawyers and other 'fixers', might have those details?

Why's Trump hiding them? To cover his business ineptness (billions lost, bankruptcies, etc.)? To cover 'loans' he's got from 'foreign financiers'? To protect his corrupt family?

Or to add to conspiracy theories, are the people he's in the owe to (US and 'foreign') and/or those benefiting financially from his 'policy' decisions forcing him to keep his financial info hidden to protect themselves.

After all, corrupt people deal mainly with other corrupt people. Birds of a feather and all that.

The IRS would have those details each year that his taxes were successfully and legally processed.

You know, the agency that decides if your taxes were filed correctly and notifies you if they weren’t and jails you if it were intentionally misrepresented? Those guys.

not a reporter at NY Times looking at leaked “summaries”.

Trump has spun this as a normal part of doing real estate (while simultaneously calling it "Fake News"). Fox & Friends has spun Trump's losses as something admirable because it shows his ability to get his hands on enormous amounts of (other people's) money and audaciously throw it into risky ventures.

What both overlook is that this occurred at the expense of others, i.e. lenders and contractors and working-class people. Trump continued to live in luxury and fame. He's a long-term grifter subsidized by the taxpayer.

This is very old news. Citizen Trump wrote about this very topic in his book, "The Art of the Comeback", published in 1997. He also talked about it to Rosie O'Donnell in the first episode of the first season of "The Apprentice".

Of course, don't expect the low information leftist crowd to know anything about any of this. For them it's Imuch easier to just nod in bovine agreement to whatever they are told by their intellectual superiors within the Democrat Media Complex.

“Besides interest in examining how the IRS audits presidents, Democrats have given a host of other reasons as to why they want to see Trump’s tax returns. “

Just “curious” Dems who want to know how taxes work for Presidents. who could have done this when a Dem was President. Just coincidence Trump is President now. Nothing to see here at all.

This is very old news. Citizen Trump wrote about this very topic in his book, "The Art of the Comeback", published in 1997. He also talked about it to Rosie O'Donnell in the first episode of the first season of "The Apprentice".

You know Trumpers are really stretching for excuses when they cite Rosie O'Donnell when talking about Trump's business bankruptcies and failure to pay any income tax...

BlacklabelToday 08:28 am JST

The IRS would have those details each year that his taxes were successfully and legally processed.

You are witnessing the birth of the next right wing conspiracy theory to explain away Donny lying, cheating, and stealing.

I wonder who tweeted this out in 2012;

HALF of Americans don't pay income tax despite crippling govt debt...

Yes, the same loser that lost over a billion dollars due to his business incompetence - and paid zero income tax for 8 years. Trump criticizing Trump... Gen Kelly was right, this is "crazytown"...

How can his supporters not see through his outright lying and hypocrisy?

You know Trumpers are really stretching for excuses when they cite Rosie O'Donnell when talking about Trump's business bankruptcies and failure to pay any income tax...

And more, its amazing how much they idolize him. I imagine they know more about Trump than they do their own kids.

A Chicago Cubs fan is being investigated for an upside down OK sign for white supremacy, what is trump doing in this photo?

"You always wanted to show losses for tax purposes....almost all real estate developers did — and often re-negotiate with banks, it was sport" 

This is an admission of tax fraud.

Just “curious” Dems who want to know how taxes work for Presidents. who could have done this when a Dem was President.

It was unnecessary to chase other Presidential candidates' taxes, as they released them voluntarily.

NY Times: Trump is dumb.

Trump: I am not dumb, I am just a crook.

This is hysterical, I havent laughed so hard recently.

Thank you Trump, you make my days funny and my nights hysterical!!

Just “curious” Dems who want to know how taxes work for Presidents. who could have done this when a Dem was President.

No president was ever audacious enough to place his own personal interests over that of the country. That used to be the expected position of a president. The idea that someone would refuse was thought to be so un-American, they would never be unelected.

What no one realized was how many deplorables would be so bitter about having there deplorableness pointed out to them, that they would vote someone into the presidency who placed their own personal interests over the country.

How could people realize that so many Americans would be so pathetic?

Well, now, the patheticness of the deplorables has been exposed, so now a law actually is required. The American people have shown they are stupid enough to vote in a moron who holds their own personal interests above those of the country.

What a businessman! Didn't lose, thousands, or millions, our hundreds of millions, Trump lost over one $1 BILLION - as they say in DC, that's real money...

Instead of investing in failed Casinos and dodgy airlines, if Trump would have just put that money in an everyday bank savings account earning 4% interest, he'd have more than enough money to pay for "The Wall" out of his own pocket. Some genius....

Every day we learn something new about what a con-man and fraud this guy is - wake up Trumpers, this guy has conned you, just like he conned the students at Trump U and the people that buy his books (Art of the Deal? Maybe Art of the Deal or How to Lose $1 Billion over 10 Years)...

And like all the other Wall Street fat cats who he gave his tax break to, he paid no income tax for 8 years, while hard working middle and lower income Americans contributed their fair share.

The Ultimate Loser...

The idea that someone would refuse was thought to be so un-American, they would never be unelected.

Oops, that should read 'elected'. I mashed together 'they would be unelectable' with 'they would never be elected'.

Blacklabel: The IRS would have those details each year that his taxes were successfully and legally processed.

Great. So if Trump owes Russia $800,000,000 in personally secured loans, I'm glad his accountant put the number in the right column and the IRS confirmed it. We can rest easy knowing that.

Well, I guess that wraps up the discussion.

 and his fight against a demand by House Democrats for six years' worth of his personal and business returns — is but one battle in a broader war against oversight demands by congressional Democrats

This is what happens when someone is elected president who neither knows nor cares about the concept of co-equal branches of government. Congress can’t perform oversight if it has no materials to work with. By law Congress is allowed to see Trump’s taxes. 

The phrase, "constitutional crisis," has been used so often we’re numb to its arrival. It arrived.

Trump is a fake businessman. And since his whole political career and persona was built on being not only a real businessman but a successful one, where does that leave him now? No wonder he is willing to go to any lengths to hide the awful truth about his web of lies that he calls his business empire.

As for his Tweets, he's talking about depreciation. Back in the 80s you could depreciate part of the value of your building every year and count it as a loss. Real estate owners abused it by taking massive depreciation early in ownership which greatly reduced their taxes by offsetting the real profits with accounting losses. They've since changed the laws to stop that. And everyone did it because there was no reason not to, not just Trump.

But the thing about depreciation is that it doesn't have anything to do with going bankrupt. Trump did that part himself.

Trump's built some pretty cool things in the world and has done some pretty cool real estate deals. And then you have the Taj Mahal, pretty much the textbook example of how not to do real estate. It should be taught at universities. And he did it while depreciating the building in the process to avoid taxes.

The fact is that he was given $400,000,000, socialized his losses, and got fame from his successes. At best he's a .500 hitter who would have been put out of business long ago if it weren't for his father's bailouts.

I suppose high level businessmen have good and bad yrs so what, sometimes the economy isn't in your favour, his net worth as it stands now is 3.8 billion, he doesn't draw the Presidential salary and donates it to a war vets charity, he had a top rating show and several best selling books, i suppose the most telling part is he never gives up, got knocked down and got right up, a loser yeah right.

The part you guys miss in your gleeful responses is- Trump filed taxes every year under the tax laws of that year and was likely audited every time and nothing found by the IRS.

-and-

You enjoy saying he lost 1 billion dollars and went bankrupt. Ok fine, whatever you like.

But he is worth 4 billion now, which is money he already had prior to even running for President. So does that mean he made FIVE billion back?

Headline: Bezos Sets New Wealth Record, Losing $19.2 Billion Over Two Days

Is he also a loser who knows nothing about how to make money or run a business?

"According to Bloomberg, Warren Buffett was the biggest loser Monday, with his fortune dropping $5.11 billion. Jeff Bezos lost $3.26 billion, meaning he's down to his last $116 billion. Bezos is still up $17.3 billion for the year to date. Bill Gates is down $2.25 billion Monday and Larry Page and Sergey Brin are both down around $2.3 billion."

All losers! right?

Fox News reaction: Trump has achieved more than anyone else.

It does look like it, he lost more money than any other tax payer in the US.

Amazon will probably classify 'The Art of the deal' under ' fantasy fiction 'category .

"According to Bloomberg, Warren Buffett was the biggest loser Monday, with his fortune dropping $5.11 billion. Jeff Bezos lost $3.26 billion, meaning he's down to his last $116 billion. Bezos is still up $17.3 billion for the year to date. Bill Gates is down $2.25 billion Monday and Larry Page and Sergey Brin are both down around $2.3 billion."

Some basic business lessons are required here......

I thought the only criteria for loser was losing 1 billion dollars in a 10 year period.

So actually it is just more of the "I hate Trump" narrative and nothing to do with the amount of money (temporarily) lost at all.

all these supposed "criminal" actions of the Trump family. Not one has been proven. Prove one and we will talk.

I always suspected that the state of Trump's finances matched that of his hair and wondered what he's hiding under that bird's nest as well as in his undisclosed tax-returns. We now have further proof to add to the findings of dozens of mental health professionals who warn of his psychological instability and his sheer incompetence that make him manifestly unfit to carry out his duties as POTUS (who'd a thunk it?).His trashy, ghost-written boasts of his "business acumen" were only read by illiterates and suckers for Ponzi schemes. More revelations are forthcoming and I especially look forward to the figures that show he has brazenly violated the emoluments clause thus providing one more reason for his impeachment, removal from office and..."Pen-a-Lago"?

all these supposed "criminal" actions of the Trump family. Not one has been proven. Prove one and we will talk.

He just admitted to tax fraud. He doesn't realise that's what he did because he's a dope, but that's what he did.

But he is worth 4 billion now, which is money he already had prior to even running for President. So does that mean he made FIVE billion back?

He claimed to be worth over ten billion in the campaign. How did he lose 60% of his net worth in two years?

Let's see the more recent tax returns, which will probably be even more damning as they're likely to show Trump is in the pockets of Putin and his circle of oligarchs.

Let's see the more recent tax return

OH NO!! You got him, how did Mueller miss that when he and a team of tax experts pored over his tax returns looking for that very thing, a link to Russia, after all their investigation was referred to as the Russia probe, you've cracked the case wide open.

$ 1 billion in the 1980s is around $ 2.9 billion today, helps you understand the scale of his losses.

It takes a special kind of genius to lose that much for so long.

Interesting fact is that his father Fred was mostly profitable, one of the few losses he showed was the investment in Donny's business.

Good grief... there's only one question which needs to be answered - is Trump legally required to release his tax returns to the public? Nope!

Anyways, most Americans don't care about them - they care about JOBS, of which tons are being created under this administration.

I, for one, would be far more interested in the tax returns of all the congressmen and senators who became millionaires after taking office rather than the tax returns of one billionaire who became president.

Let's see the more recent tax returns, which will probably be even more damning as they're likely to show Trump is in the pockets of Putin and his circle of oligarchs.

Russia, Russia, Russia! Pssst, stormcrow - has not anyone told ye that horse is long dead?

Lol when they lose out in logic Trumpets go back to the oft repeated, ''Americans dont care.........''

The answer is a majority of the Americans do care, and though the GOP seems to have lost its spine and regressed in evolution , they will come back.

Let's see the more recent tax returns, which will probably be even more damning as they're likely to show Trump is in the pockets of Putin and his circle of oligarchs.

Russia, Russia, Russia! Pssst, stormcrow - has not anyone told ye that horse is long dead?

Keep repeating that, we know it is therapeutic for Trumpers, even though the horse is alive and definitely kicking...kicking Donnie in the behind...

Anyways, most Americans don't care about them - they care about JOBS, of which tons are being created under this administration.

Thank you President Obama! And as for his tax returns, a whole lot of Americans want to see how many more billions he lost due to incompetence...and paid zero taxes like his Top 1% Wall Street Fat Cat buddies...

OH NO!! You got him, how did Mueller miss that when he and a team of tax experts pored over his tax returns looking for that very thing, a link to Russia, after all their investigation was referred to as the Russia probe, you've cracked the case wide open.

How do you know Mueller looked at Donnie's tax return?

I thought the only criteria for loser was losing 1 billion dollars in a 10 year period.

So actually it is just more of the "I hate Trump" narrative and nothing to do with the amount of money (temporarily) lost at all.

Someone's spin cycle is about to break from strain - The Art of the Bankruptcy author lost over $1 Billion - what a loser! He then used that to stiff the government - when ordinary Americans step up and pay their taxes.

Trump/Pence 2020 - The Con Continues....

all these supposed "criminal" actions of the Trump family. Not one has been proven. Prove one and we will talk.

When you look at all the comments, it boils down to this, once again the Democrats don’t have anything, absolutely nothing and they’re so ticked off that they can’t find anything on this president even with this flimsy tax record it doesn’t show anything criminal, darn it! The Democrats are really weighing out options now they keep shooting and they keep failing and their surrogate mediabots. Funny.

When you look at all the comments, it boils down to this...

Trump tried to obstruct justice over 10 times...

He lied multiple times (the Russia Tower meeting was about adoptions)...

Seven of his closest associates have been indicted and are or soon will be serving time in orange jumpsuits for lying about meeting with Russians...

Yesterday we find out he lost over $1 Billion showing the entire world he's a loser, a fraud and a liar - and then paid zero income tax for 8 years while ordinary Americans paid their fair share...

Today at a rally in Florida a Trump supporter said "shoot them" when Trump was talking about immigrants - and all he did was laugh... This after another horrible school shooting.

And all The Trumpers here can say, "show me something criminal"... Its the same as saying that the Mob Boss is a great guy because the government hasn't hung any charges on him yet.

But Donnie does have a charge - he's labeled as "Individual -1" in the conspiracy case to pay off porn stars and Playboy Bunnies. And that's just one of the 12 separate investigations that are looking into Trump World.

Putin's poison has worked very well on all those that close their eyes or make excuses for this fraudster and loser...

Black: All losers! right?

Well their stock went down, just like everyone else’s, because Trump can’t seem to get a deal done with China. If you want to blame someone for their losses, blame Trump.

And I’m guessing Trump has more bankruptcies than all of those people combined.

Your boy is a .500 hitter who got bailed out of his losses by his dad or he wouldn’t have money today.

Trump tried to obstruct justice over 10 times...

He lied multiple times (the Russia Tower meeting was about adoptions)...

Mueller couldn’t prove it, the 19 angry Democrats couldn’t, the 40 FBI agents couldn’t, McCabe, Comey, Strzok, Bruce and Nelly Ohrr couldn’t. But Nadler can...riiiiiiiight? ROFL!

Today at a rally in Florida a Trump supporter said "shoot them" when Trump was talking about immigrants - and all he did was laugh... This after another horrible school shooting.

So he’s supposed to stop life? When Steve Scalise got shot, the Dems didn’t stop being sarcastic, not even a little bit.

And all The Trumpers here can say, "show me something criminal"... Its the same as saying that the Mob Boss is a great guy because the government hasn't hung any charges on him yet.

Ok, so show us something that Mueller and his Democrat angry posse couldn’t? What crime? Sorry, but either a crime was committed or it wasn’t, you can’t say, maybe and not indict, the Democrats really have nothing, but I get the political theater, gotta save face......what’s left of it anyway...

But Donnie does have a charge - he's labeled as "Individual -1" in the conspiracy case to pay off porn stars and Playboy Bunnies. And that's just one of the 12 separate investigations that are looking into Trump World.

Putin's poison has worked very well on all those that close their eyes or make excuses for this fraudster and loser...

Sorry, Trump will never see prison, it just won’t happen. The chance of Trump or any of his families going to prison is as real as Hillary going to prison. Can’t wait for the pardons to come, that should enrage the Democrats even more. Lol

Trump tried to obstruct justice over 10 times...

He lied multiple times (the Russia Tower meeting was about adoptions)...

Mueller couldn’t prove it, the 19 angry Democrats couldn’t, the 40 FBI agents couldn’t, McCabe, Comey, Strzok, Bruce and Nelly Ohrr couldn’t. But Nadler can...riiiiiiiight? ROFL!

I cited facts, right out of the Mueller report. You just replied with far-right fairy tales....

Today at a rally in Florida a Trump supporter said "shoot them" when Trump was talking about immigrants - and all he did was laugh... This after another horrible school shooting.

So he’s supposed to stop life? When Steve Scalise got shot, the Dems didn’t stop being sarcastic, not even a little bit.

Why didn't he say in America, we don't use deadly force on innocent unarmed people - why didn't he show some leadership, guts and integrity? Maybe because he has none...

And all The Trumpers here can say, "show me something criminal"... Its the same as saying that the Mob Boss is a great guy because the government hasn't hung any charges on him yet.

Ok, so show us something that Mueller and his Democrat angry posse couldn’t? What crime? Sorry, but either a crime was committed or it wasn’t, you can’t say, maybe and not indict, the Democrats really have nothing, but I get the political theater, gotta save face......what’s left of it anyway...

Once again, a crime mob boss is not a saint because the law hasn't caught up to him yet. I assume you think John Gotti was a great guy before the feds were able to put him away. You, and all the Trumpers excuse or ignore Trump's crony's Russian ties, his lying, the fraud, the hate speech...he's nothing but a con-man and a fraudster. If you think this pitiful excuse for a human being is the standard you want in a President, that says a lot about your values.

But Donnie does have a charge - he's labeled as "Individual -1" in the conspiracy case to pay off porn stars and Playboy Bunnies. And that's just one of the 12 separate investigations that are looking into Trump World.

Putin's poison has worked very well on all those that close their eyes or make excuses for this fraudster and loser...

Sorry, Trump will never see prison, it just won’t happen. The chance of Trump or any of his families going to prison is as real as Hillary going to prison. Can’t wait for the pardons to come, that should enrage the Democrats even more. Lol

You asked for a crime - I gave you one. Whether he goes to Prison will be up to a judge. Whether any of his family goes to Prison will be up to a judge. There are 12 separate investigations ongoing involving Trump, his family, and the Trump Org. He's in significant legal jeopardy, as even his friends at Fox news acknowledge.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/judge-andrew-napolitano-trumps-legal-woes-continue-to-grow