Is there a law requiring the sharing of tax returns of Presidents of the US/POTUS or candidates for POTUS?

2018-11-07T20:15:00-05:00

I keep hearing about POTUS required to show their tax return. I also know this never happened before 1970s. Did anyone see Roosevelt, Eisenhower, or Kennedy tax returns?
http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns

Tax History Project -- Presidential Tax Returns

Individual income tax returns — including those of public figures — are private information, protected by law from unauthorized disclosure. Indeed, the Internal Revenue Service is barred from releasing any taxpayer information whatsoever, except to authorized agencies and individuals.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 7 at 2018 8:31 PM

2018-11-07T20:31:37-05:00

It has become customary, but no there is no law that requires it. However, since 1970, the Tax returns of the President, Vice-President, (and I believe the line of succession are audited every year as long as they remain in the line of succession).

http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/web/presidentialtaxreturns

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article117755838.html

Tax History Project -- Presidential Tax Returns

Response by SrA John Monette made Nov 7 at 2018 8:33 PM

2018-11-07T20:33:55-05:00

I don't believe there is a law that requires disclosures of financials for political candidates. however, it became the norm in November 1963, when Mitt Romney's father released 12 years of tax returns. since then, it was expected, but not a requirement and certainly not a law

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2018 9:17 PM

2018-11-07T21:17:34-05:00

There is no law. If the House of Representative wants his tax records, they have to have justification for them. President Trump has not committed any crime. This would be an abuse of authority.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2018 9:30 PM

2018-11-07T21:30:11-05:00

Short answer- No

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Nov 7 at 2018 9:31 PM

2018-11-07T21:31:42-05:00

There is no law that that requires public disclosure, but it has been a standard practice (until the current POTUS) for the last 40 years or so for candidates for POTUS to release them to show they have no financial entanglements.

Now there is a law that the House Ways and Means committee can examine any citizen's tax return, which presumably includes the president's but that particular nuance has never been tested in court. That also does not necessarily result in public disclosure of the president's tax returns.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 7 at 2018 9:33 PM

2018-11-07T21:33:33-05:00

I'm more concerned with proof of citizenship. Now, before you go ballistic on me, I'm not talking about President Obama. I'm talking about all candidates. There are requirements of age and citizenship that must be satisfied. Is anyone checking this? I don't think so. Election officials appear to be "assuming" that candidates are qualified, and we all know about "assumptions", don't we?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 7 at 2018 10:23 PM

2018-11-07T22:23:50-05:00

Just how many actual voters, (or politicians), could actually understand a Internal Revenue Service Form 1040?

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Nov 8 at 2018 5:42 AM

2018-11-08T05:42:26-05:00

If we can see the Kennedy tax returns, I want to see Papa Joe's from the start of his criminal empire.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Nov 8 at 2018 2:42 PM

2018-11-08T14:42:10-05:00

What is Trump hiding? Not as rich as he claims? Borrowed funds from another person/country? Paid off some porno star? (is that deductible?) Still receiving income from his companies?

Just as with the Russian investigation, what is he hiding?