The reported release of Donald Trump’s tax return documents suggest that the Republican presidential candidate may not have paid income tax in the US for over a decade.
The documents allegedly show that Trump claimed a loss of $916 million by two failed businesses in order to escape paying federal tax. Whilst not an illegal act in itself, the documents shed some light on the businessman’s continued refusal to reveal his tax returns – despite the precedent set by every presidential candidate over the past 40 years.
In a statement, his campaign said: “The only news here is that the more than 20-year-old alleged tax document was illegally obtained, a further demonstration that the New York Times, like establishment media in general, is an extension of the Clinton campaign, the Democratic party and their global special interests.”
Following criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders about his tax activities, his campaign team said Trump was “a highly-skilled businessman who has a fiduciary responsibility to his business, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required”.
“That being said, Mr Trump has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes, sales and excise taxes, real estate taxes, city taxes, state taxes, employee taxes and federal taxes, along with very substantial charitable contributions.”
This release follows last week’s presidential debate in which Clinton attempted to interrogate Trump over his continued secrecy of his tax returns. When questioned over his tax activity, Trump said that such a move made him “smart”. According to poll figures, voters concluded that Clinton decidedly won the first televised debate over Trump.
Trump has thus far not denied the latest allegations, but has announced his intention to sue the New York Times for illegally obtaining the documents.
