Trump Claims Ongoing Audit Is Reason He Can’t Release Tax Returns Yet

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, left, reacts as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Hous... Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, left, reacts as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Donald Trump said during Thursday’s GOP debate in Houston that the reason he is not releasing his tax returns yet is because he’s being audited at the moment.

“I’ve been audited every year, 12 years or something like that,” Trump said. “Every year they audit me, audit me, audit me. I have friends that are very wealthy people. I will absolutely give my return but I’m being audited now for two or three now so I can’t do it until the audit is finished obviously, and I think people would understand that.”

Hugh Hewitt reminded Trump that during a radio interview with him, Trump promised to turn over his tax returns.

“Are you going back on your commitment?” Hewitt asked.

Trump just put down Hewitt’s show.

“First of all, very few people listen to your radio show,” Trump said. “Look, let me just tell you something. I want to release my tax returns but I can’t release it while I’m under an audit. We’re under a routine audit. Obviously if I’m being audited, I’m not going to release the return. As soon as the audit is done, I love it.”

Ted Cruz (R-TX) charged that Trump was hiding something or he would have released them.

“Donald says he’s being audited. Well, I would think that would underscore the need to release those returns. If he has said something that is false and that an audit is going to find is fraudulent, the voters need to know,” Cruz said.

Former Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney–who has been harassing Trump to release his tax returns–weighed in that Trump could still turn over the returns.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Probably doesn’t want to release them because they will prove he is overestimating his wealth.

  2. Ted Cruz (R-TX) charged that Trump was hiding something or he would have released them.

    “Donald says he’s being audited. Well, I would think that would underscore the need to release those returns. If he has said something that is false and that an audit is going to find is fraudulent, the voters need to know,” Cruz said.

    where’s your tax returns Ted?

  3. Hi shit, meet crap…

  4. “I’ve been audited every year, 12 years or something like that,” Trump
    said. “Every year they audit me, audit me, audit me. I have friends that
    are very wealthy people. I will absolutely give my return but I’m being
    audited now for two or three now so I can’t do it until the audit is
    finished obviously, and I think people would understand that.”

    I thought I was reading Palin word salad,
    So what does having rich friends have to do with his tax return?
    If you are audited every year, Donald, it is likely you have a really shitty tax person preparing your return and they’ve screwed it up for the last 12 years…

  5. Shit, Mitt, you’re a has-been, but I still wouldn’t mind getting your pre-2010 returns. You know, the ones you filed before you started cleaning up all those offshore tax shelters and such in anticipation of having to release some? Yeah, those.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

18 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for trnc Avatar for wwss Avatar for inversion Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for dickweed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for frozenstarfire

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: