In a big world, how can one person make a difference? How can one person, who sees the path to economic salvation in tax cuts for corporations and businessmen, have an effect when he’s not in public office?
If that person is Harold Ford Jr., he does what he can: Cuts his own taxes.
Ford, who’s considering a primary challenge of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), has never paid New York State income tax, a spokeswoman confirmed to Gawker today.
Ford’s residency has been hazy. In interviews, Ford has said he’s been commuting between Tennessee and New York since starting at Merrill. He says he’s been an official New York resident since last year. But as Gawker points out, New York requires that even non-residents and partial residents pay income taxes. Tennessee, on the other hand, does not tax wages.
The spokeswoman said Ford, a former Congressman from Tennessee who works for Merrill Lynch, has never filed a return here, although he plans to do so this year.
“He pays New York taxes and will file a New York tax return in April for the first time,” said the spokeswoman, Tammy Sun. “He will file all necessary personal disclosure and tax forms that candidates are required to file if he chooses to run.”
Sun did not specify which “New York taxes” Ford pays.
Ford has been working as a vice chairman at Merrill Lynch since March 2007 and, although he recently took a leave of absence, one suspects his income from that job has been significant. But he’s kept it from the State of New York the entire time.
Ford’s platform, as described last month to the New York Times, includes cutting taxes for corporations and employers.
“I think immediately, we need to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent. We need to make clear that dividends and capital-gains taxes not go up — we do not want to see decisions made that are rash. We should have a broad payroll-tax cut. A three month payroll-tax holiday for businesses and workers,” he said.
“I think tax cuts for employers, particularly small businesses, is critically important right now,” he said. “I think there ought to be a huge-tax cut bill for business people, not only in New York but across the country.”
Late update: Sun, Ford’s spokesman, sent TPM a statement defending Ford, and taking a shot at Gillibrand for good measure:
Harold Ford Jr. has always paid his taxes — and always will. Any suggestion to the contrary is both malicious and wrong. He will file for the first time as a New York resident in April. If he becomes a candidate for US Senate — like he did for 10 years while serving in Congress — Harold will comply with all financial disclosure requirements expected of a candidate for U.S Senate. The real tax issue is about the unelected Senator’s dismal record of raising taxes and killing jobs throughout New York.
Late late update (2/15): Ford’s camp is now saying that he has filed New York State tax returns, as a non-resident, since 2007.
