# Why won't Romney release his tax returns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 1, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085 "2012-08-01T18:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/622 "2012-08-15T20:52:20Z")
“We have been very transparent to what’s legally required of us” is a fantastic line. We have been totally up front about the stuff we are legally required to be up front about. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/623 "2012-08-15T20:54:21Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > We aren’t asking for the tax returns of the trust, which would be filed separately. We are asking for the tax returns of Mr. and Mrs. Romney. Unless all their assets and all their income is in a blind trust (and it isn’t according to the return they did release), they sign a return every year that they are legally responsible for the contents of. > > Or, Ann Romney has zero idea what she is talking about and has never looked at the return she signs every year that makes her liable for its contents. Hell, I sign electronically for my wife and my on our returns - she just wants to know the bottom line number (refund or payment). It may display a naive trust in my ability to do the taxes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true for many couples (one does, one signs and doesn’t read). Actually, my experience from helping with my folk’s tax return business many years ago is that people didn’t read those returns, either. And I’d wager that most people just sign where H&R Block tell them to sign. Maybe not smart, but they’re paying for the service so that they don’t have to understand the ins-and-outs. And that would probably be even more true for Ann Romney, considering the complexity of that return. Heck, I doubt Mitt does much more than check the bottom line. And, after all that, they should release more of the damn returns. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/624 "2012-08-15T21:01:36Z")
Isn’t Ann’s job supposed to be to make Mitt appear human and friendly, not to be Leona Helmsley? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/625 "2012-08-15T21:17:10Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > “We have been very transparent to what’s legally required of us” is a fantastic line. We have been totally up front about the stuff we are legally required to be up front about. They are trying to protray toeing the line as being forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/626 "2012-08-15T21:21:55Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Isn’t Ann’s job supposed to be to make Mitt appear human and friendly, not to be Leona Helmsley? Ann Romney: “Leona Helmsley? She was born into _poverty_! Don’t associate me with her!” ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/627 "2012-08-16T02:17:09Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Hell, I sign electronically for my wife and my on our returns - she just wants to know the bottom line number (refund or payment). It may display a naive trust in my ability to do the taxes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true for many couples (one does, one signs and doesn’t read). > > Actually, my experience from helping with my folk’s tax return business many years ago is that people didn’t read those returns, either. And I’d wager that most people just sign where H&R Block tell them to sign. > > Maybe not smart, but they’re paying for the service so that they don’t have to understand the ins-and-outs. And that would probably be even more true for Ann Romney, considering the complexity of that return. Heck, I doubt Mitt does much more than check the bottom line. > > And, after all that, they should release more of the damn returns. Honestly, my husband is the same, but then, I’m not running for president and he isn’t commenting on the contents of our returns which has now been a topic since the primaries. Should I be committing tax fraud, he is going down, just because I signed off for him electronically, doesn’t provide him an excuse. Should you ask my husband he’d reply “I don’t know, my wife does them.” Not “its in a blind trust” which is just WRONG. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/628 "2012-08-16T02:33:35Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > No. I’m saying Romney and crew probably had all of Ryan’s returns, and Ryan would have been willing to release them, but he had to stick to the “we’re only releasing two” paradigm to make Romney look good. I don’t think it’s working. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/629 "2012-08-16T03:41:42Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > “We have been very transparent to what’s legally required of us” is a fantastic line. We have been totally up front about the stuff we are legally required to be up front about. Has either Romney ever said they paid _income_ taxes? “We pay our taxes” could refer to things like property tax or sales tax or excise taxes on gasoline. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/630 "2012-08-16T16:56:39Z")
Finally, while not exactly the returns it is [is almost as good](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/16/1120860/-Romney-claims-he-s-paid-at-least-13-percent-tax-rate-each-year-in-last-decade): > [@](#): > > The fascination with taxes I’ve paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues we face. But I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past ten years, I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I’ve paid taxes every single year. Harry Reid’s charge is totally false. I’m sure waiting for Harry to put up whoever told him. I don’t believe it for a minute by the way. But every year I’ve paid at least 13 percent and if you add in addition the amount that goes to charity, why the amount goes well above 20 percent. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/631 "2012-08-16T19:19:14Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Finally, while not exactly the returns it is [is almost as good](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/16/1120860/-Romney-claims-he-s-paid-at-least-13-percent-tax-rate-each-year-in-last-decade): > > > [@](#): > > > > The fascination with taxes I’ve paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues we face. But I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past ten years, I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I’ve paid taxes every single year. Harry Reid’s charge is totally false. I’m sure waiting for Harry to put up whoever told him. I don’t believe it for a minute by the way. But every year I’ve paid at least 13 percent and if you add in addition the amount that goes to charity, why the amount goes well above 20 percent. First of all, I don’t know if he just expects us to take his word for it. Or if he is just clueless and doesn’t understand why people are expecting proof by actually seeing the returns. Also I’m not sure why he brought up charity. That is a totally separate thing from taxes, and I don’t remember hearing anyone talk about his charitable donations. Also everyone I’ve seen who’s commented about that is assuming that he isn’t talking about money given to charity, but money given to the Mormon church. So I’m sure some of that money would be going to real charity work, but it would also be going to spreading the Mormon church and paying their bills. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/632 "2012-08-16T19:21:28Z")
Another brilliant move by Romney: he keeps the issue in the news, makes sure he gets asked more questions, satisfies nobody, and confirms he didn’t pay a lot in taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/633 "2012-08-16T19:23:24Z")
It’s cute how he says “why” at the beginning of declarative statements sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/634 "2012-08-16T19:26:24Z")
And that “well above 20 percent” is some huge fucking burden for a guy making $20 million+. Millions of middle class families pay an effective rate higher than that if you include charitable contributions, myself included. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/635 "2012-08-16T19:27:38Z")
But that does narrow down the reasons not to disclose them, if the “paid almost nothing” claim is false. We’re rapidly closing in on “took advantage of undeclared foreign income amnesty” or “used some highly shady tax structure”. Or he’s just lying about the 13%. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/636 "2012-08-16T19:40:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Either your use of the plural “returns” is a typo or that elusive second return, which was promised but may never be delivered, actually was delivered. Good point. In any case, she should be looking through the returns, if only to see how much in taxes they saved from having that damn horse. (I wish I knew about that when I owned a horse.) I think a spouse can get excused from tax liability if she (or he) can prove that she or he was kept from information on the taxes. I really don’t think Mitt prevented Anne from seeing the taxes, that isn’t like him. So she has no excuse. Also, e-filing requires a pin for both, and that is the equivalent of signing a return, and is also no excuse. My wife and I go through every damn line of our return together. Anything else would be nuts. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/637 "2012-08-16T19:58:51Z")
13% of what? I wouldn’t doubt he uses lots of accounting tricks to make his income as low as possible. Corporations often pay 0% because they can write everything off and declare their profit as zero. I’m sure he has a team of accountants who are very good at exploiting loopholes to make sure his income is sheltered from tax as much as possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if his declared income is some trivial amount like $100k with the bulk of his assets in tax shelters. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/638 "2012-08-16T20:41:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Another brilliant move by Romney: he keeps the issue in the news, makes sure he gets asked more questions, satisfies nobody, and confirms he didn’t pay a lot in taxes. Also that Harry Reid is a lying scumhole. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/639 "2012-08-16T20:45:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Also that Harry Reid is a lying scumhole. > > Regards, > Shodan Prove it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/640 "2012-08-16T20:46:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Also that Harry Reid is a lying scumhole. Romney’s say-so doesn’t prove anything, which is why today’s pronouncement is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/641 "2012-08-16T21:01:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Another brilliant move by Romney: he keeps the issue in the news, makes sure he gets asked more questions, satisfies nobody, and confirms he didn’t pay a lot in taxes. It’s interesting that he trotted out the figure “13 percent” when he could have pulled any old number at all out of his arse (given that he still refuses to fork over any actual documentation). I can only conclude that he knows, and he knows that we know, that the game is so rigged that nobody would beleive a claim that a guy in his bracked paid at a rate comparable to that of a typical middle-class taxpayer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=33)