# 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:** 34
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/662 "2012-08-17T15:18:11Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > When I saw that, and the specific request for five years, I wondered if they knew something. It may just be that they knew the Romney camp would likely decline, and the story would keep the issue fresh in the news. However, it seems like it could have been a risk - if the things that worry Romney happened more than 5 years ago, this would have been an easy way to take the issue off the table and look like less of a tool. I wondered that, but I doubt they know anything–if they did they would just find a way to leak what it actually is. ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/663 "2012-08-17T15:40:12Z")
Five years would still reveal if took the tax amnesty. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/664 "2012-08-17T20:33:58Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > When I saw that, and the specific request for five years, I wondered if they knew something. It may just be that they knew the Romney camp would likely decline, and the story would keep the issue fresh in the news. However, it seems like it could have been a risk - if the things that worry Romney happened more than 5 years ago, this would have been an easy way to take the issue off the table and look like less of a tool. When have the Rebublicans ever agreed to work with Obama on anything? > [@Frylock](#): > > I wondered that, but I doubt they know anything–if they did they would just find a way to leak what it actually is. I don’t think so. If they leak Romney’s returns, then the topic switches from “Romney’s hiding something” to “Obama’s playing dirty”. This is especially true if there’s nothing particularly damaging in the returns and Romney’s just being malfunctional about it. Keeping the public speculating for weeks on end is way better for the Obama team. The harder Romney fights to keep his secrets, the shadier he looks. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/665 "2012-08-17T20:43:14Z")
Yeah, if the IRS or the administration actually went into the tax files to look at anything, it wouldn’t just be bad optics, it would probably be a federal felony. That’s not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/666 "2012-08-18T08:18:18Z")
I actually don’t think there’s anything there of note. Rich guy takes advantage of tax loopholes, etc. In reality this would probably get Romney more moderately rich swing voters. “Like you, I try to take every tax advantage I can.” I think Team Obama has some oppo material on Romney - something that might have had him look not-so-great to the McCain camp in 2008. Maybe some ludicrous deductions or something like that. They know it’s there, Romney knows it’s there, which is why they put the “five years” message out there. This sideshow is indicative of how tone deaf Romney is. Honestly, most people don’t care if you have 12 houses - not the folks you need to worry about getting to vote for you, anyway. The people who have a problem with Mittens being rich aren’t going to be convinced to vote for Romney no matter what. But it’s been like clockwork, the disclosure of one’s taxes in an election year. You do it, the media find something squirrelly in there, it passes, nobody cares come November. This is truly death by a thousand cuts. The longer the returns are not put out there, the greater the doubt grows that there’s something really sketchy in there. Short of not paying taxes, I really don’t see what the resistance is on his end. And it’s setting a terrible precedent. If for some reason he doesn’t release his taxes and he’s elected - bear with me a minute here - then every presidential candidate will cite Romney’s 2 year return rule. They’ll park their money offshore, do shady stuff, and clean up for two years before their presidential run. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/667 "2012-08-18T13:51:36Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > When I saw that, and the specific request for five years, I wondered if they knew something. Even if they don’t know directly, how else to explain Romney’s position that 2010 can safely be made public info but 2009 cannot? At this point, simply the fact that he’s drawing a line at all is what makes him appear to be hiding something serious. And in campaigns, appearance is everything. All Romney can do now is to hope that this causes less damage to him than would confirmation of his having evaded taxes on his foreign accounts. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/668 "2012-08-18T15:06:04Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > When I saw that, and the specific request for five years, I wondered if they knew something. It may just be that they knew the Romney camp would likely decline, and the story would keep the issue fresh in the news. However, it seems like it could have been a risk - if the things that worry Romney happened more than 5 years ago, this would have been an easy way to take the issue off the table and look like less of a tool. > [@Frylock](#): > > I wondered that, but I doubt they know anything–if they did they would just find a way to leak what it actually is. I’m not seeing it. The closest thing the bad guys have to a Swift boat strategy at the moment is a claim that the WH has been leaking stuff in an effort to make President Obama look good. The faintest whiff of an excuse to claim that the Obama campaign is leaking _anything_ to create or press an advantage in the election would be a gift to the people making the cockamamie claim above. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/669 "2012-08-23T17:39:16Z")
Gawker just released a boatload of financial documents called the [Bain Files](http://gawker.com/5936394/the-bain-files-inside-mitt-romneys-tax+dodging-cayman-schemes). They’re just sifting through them now. But they found out so far: Equity Swaps, AIVs, and Mitt Romney’s Other Tax-Dodging Tricks Mitt Romney’s Endless ‘Retirement’ Package How Mitt Romney Puts His Money Where Obama’s Mouth Is Derivatives, Short Sales, and Mitt Romney’s Other Exotic Financial Instruments Mitt Romney Is the National Enquirer’s Banker ---
**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 23, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/670 "2012-08-23T18:34:56Z")
Well this war on women has one upside for Romney, noone seems too interested in his taxes anymore. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/671 "2012-08-23T19:20:51Z")
[Romney answers the OP](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54744938-90/romney-says-church-tithing.html.csp): He won’t release his returns because he doesn’t want to reveal how much he donates/tithes to the LDS Church. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/672 "2012-08-23T19:28:33Z")
Oh, great, so we have to listen to everything else about their personal faiths, but we can’t know how much they contribute. It should be the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/673 "2012-08-23T19:38:25Z")
> [@nogravity](#): > > Gawker just released a boatload of financial documents called the [Bain Files](http://gawker.com/5936394/the-bain-files-inside-mitt-romneys-tax+dodging-cayman-schemes). They’re just sifting through them now. But they found out so far: > > Equity Swaps, AIVs, and Mitt Romney’s Other Tax-Dodging Tricks > Mitt Romney’s Endless ‘Retirement’ Package > How Mitt Romney Puts His Money Where Obama’s Mouth Is > Derivatives, Short Sales, and Mitt Romney’s Other Exotic Financial Instruments > Mitt Romney Is the National Enquirer’s Banker Nothing particularly surprising here, nor anything actually illegal. There is plenty that is politically embarassing though. I think Romney does not want to be asked a question in the debates along the lines of: > [@](#): > > Mr. Romney, of your many millions of dollars invested, you’ve invested over a million dollars in a partnership in the Cayman Islands. This partnership is is structured so that it intends to conduct it operations so that it will not be engaged in a United States trade or business and, therefore, will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on its income from United States sources… Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, there are no income, estate, transfer, sales, or other Cayman Islands taxes payable by the Partnership. > > Tell me Mr. Romney, why are you not investing in UNITED STATES trade or business? Is saving a few dollars in taxes more important to you than investing in your country? How can you expect us to believe that the wealthy will create jobs when YOU YOURSELF invest in partnerships that are explicitly formed to NOT invest in the USA? ---
**Author:** ![maniondl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@maniondl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maniondl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/674 "2012-08-23T19:49:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Oh, great, so we have to listen to everything else about their personal faiths, but we can’t know how much they contribute. It should be the other way around. Nah, we don’t get the “I love jeebus more than you!” either. Rick Warren cancelled the “civil forum” on faith. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/675 "2012-08-23T19:54:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Romney answers the OP](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54744938-90/romney-says-church-tithing.html.csp): He won’t release his returns because he doesn’t want to reveal how much he donates/tithes to the LDS Church. HAHAHA!!! No doubt it’s because he’s cheating the church out of their full 10% tithe. This guy steps out of one cow patty and into another. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/676 "2012-08-23T20:13:12Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > HAHAHA!!! No doubt it’s because he’s cheating the church out of their full 10% tithe. This guy steps out of one cow patty and into another. It’s certainly possible. The church expects 10% of your GROSS. Romeny’s finances look so complicated with Equity Swaps, AIV’s etc. that I would not be surprised if Romney is shielding a lot of his income not only from the IRS, by also from the Mormon Church as well. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/677 "2012-08-23T20:31:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > “Tell me Mr. Romney, why are you not investing in UNITED STATES trade or business? Is saving a few dollars in taxes more important to you than investing in your country? How can you expect us to believe that the wealthy will create jobs when YOU YOURSELF invest in partnerships that are explicitly formed to NOT invest in the USA?” That’s because we’re not giving them enough incentives for the noble work they do. Multi-millionaires should be subsidized by the government. I don’t know why that’s so hard for some people to understand. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/678 "2012-08-23T21:57:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Multi-millionaires should be subsidized by the government. Indeed they should! . . . Oh, wait . . . I thought you said sodom- . . . never mind. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/679 "2012-08-23T22:10:51Z")
You know, if he didn’t want the tithing in the tax returns, he didn’t have to claim it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/680 "2012-08-23T22:12:46Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You know, if he didn’t want the tithing in the tax returns, he didn’t have to claim it. Heh. People like Mitt would rather cut off an arm than pass up a tax deduction. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/681 "2012-08-23T22:15:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Heh. People like Mitt would rather cut off an arm than pass up a tax deduction. True, but he knew he was running for president. Such a baffling story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=35)