comment: >
  
  "Brazen"
  That's kind of a positive word right? Like brave sort of?
  Definitely better than "slimy tax cheater" which would have been a more accurate headline
context: I'm so glad I paid over 36k worth in taxes while billionaires get refunds and minuscule payments.
  I don't mind paying even more if I could be guaranteed that it's going to help out anyone who's genuinely struggling.  But it's probably going to go to some corporate welfare. >
  
  Right?
  It's kind of like how we have a "healthcare market", but we're just subsidizing people to rip us off. 
  Hell, it's also like how the USDA buys produce and destroys it to keep prices high "for farmers".  We literally subsidize waste, greed and nothing else in this shithole country. >
  
  Privatized profits, socialized losses. Any company that has full time workers on food stamps is a welfare queen. >
  
  About 7-8 years ago, my niece got a job at wal mart. Part of her initial training included how to apply for Medicaid and food stamps. >
  
  Did she also have to watch the anti-union propaganda video as part of her training? I had to watch that one \~20 years ago. >
  
  all that and more nowadays, walmart employment even comes with an additional chance of being involved in a shooting or hostage situation as we saw last week 🤮 >
  
  Living in a world where guns are at the same time too dangerous to bring to work but not dangerous enough to do universal background checks on >
  
  That’s when you know you have a full blown gun problem. We should probably call it a gun pandemic.
  I say this as a responsible firearm owner: the second amendment proved its worthlessness on Jan 6th and I’m ready for it to be scrapped. 
  1st reason: Fucking armed traitors went to the capitol and many of them just got slaps on the wrist. The 2nd Amendment is for forming a well-regulated militia, meaning at the time it was written - whatever fire arm you had didn’t matter. It just mattered that you belonged to a state-recognized militia and that militia knew it could count on you if called on to defend your homeland. Where were all those “good guys with guns” on Jan 6th? Far the fuck away from the capitol and for good reason: NO ONE should have been there.
  2nd reason: Trump showed us that this country is playing fascy-footsie and loving it. The 2nd amendment is about stopping traitors like trump and their administration from abusing power. The idea of an armed populace was to help keep the govt in check (back then, it meant by wealthy land-owning white men… and since many legal firearm owners of color can still be outright killed because “they had a gun!”… there is no constitutionally protected right to own one then for anybody) If the second amendment failed at keeping modern-day fascism from rearing it’s disfigured and putrid head, then the amendment A. Doesnt mean what it says. B. Doesn’t protect any firearm owner, and doesnt serve its initial purpose.
  The second amendment needs to be rewritten entirely or tossed. And because we can’t have a level head about how that process would go due ti exasperated polarization in this country… we’re fucked.
  Go to walmart with kevlar on kids and pray the shooter isn’t a “headshot harry.” >
  
  He wrote off the Stormy payment. Trump really does not care >
  
  He doesn't care because he knows there are no consequences.  He knows he is above the law and that is why he acts the way he does. >
  
  He’s been doing this shit on his taxes for probably a long time. The tax code is like 75,000 pages long, that’s a lotta hoops you can jump through. I’m not a trump fan, but if they want people like him to pay taxes there is definitely a way, but they won’t do it because they’re all benefiting from the same shit he is. >
  
  Yeah, fucking restart the tax code.  Progressive tax bracket, no exemptions, tax summary comes from the government annually and citizens can challenge if they do decide. >
  
  Can I vote for you? >
  
  No, because I have biPolar and we all have seen what can happen when someone with power goes manic. >
  
  What's the worst you're capable of? You clearly have some brains and empathy. Unless you think you're likely to nuke New Zealand because of those damned hobbits, could it be worse than the scraps we currently have on the table? 
  President fardough 2024 >
  
  I did become a cult leader during a manic episode before I was diagnosed, just saying.
  I would be more worried about trying to imprison all billionaires until they relinquish 90% of their net worth to balance income inequality.  Manic me would be a tyrant if it ever happened while I had power. >
  
  
  
  Last president has a creepy cult, maybe you can make cults cool again
  
  
  Imprisoning billionaires seems like a net positive. The only people complaining are the ones who actively put us in these situations. 
  
  
  I mean, you clearly feel like you aren't right for the job, which probably means you're way more qualified than a majority of the dipshits that run trying to empower themselves. >
  
  Lol, I do agree we should be putting those in power who do not want power, but draw the line at someone who literally can become a maniac.
  In mania, you feel like a god, you feel you have been granted some supreme wisdom and power, you think at crazy speed, don’t need sleep, things seems so clear and profoundly simple.  Anything seems possible.  Again, anything seems possible.
  May decide to try to cure cancer, or maybe see a way to decrease the global population, or maybe decide to try to eliminate a people.
  I don’t feel we are monsters but we have them inside of us, and unmedicated & untreated it is a roll of the dice what the next manic episode will be focused on.  Scary part is we can be lost for months, focused on something our minds get fixated on and just pursue it till we hit a wall. Come out of it thousands in debt, started a successful company, or a cult.
  The real f’d part my friend is you remember it all, the feeling, the shame, the guilt, and you were truly only along for the ride.
  I pity people like Elon/Kanye even though it is their fault for not seeking treatment when they bounce out. >
  
  If billionaires can walk away without paying taxes due to stock or profit losses, I should be able to deduct any money I lose gambling. That’s not a joke; it’s the same shit. >
  
  Can I?
  “The amount of losses you deduct can't be more than the amount of gambling income you reported on your return. Claim your gambling losses up to the amount of winnings, as ‘Other Itemized Deductions.’” >
  
  I mean you wanted it to work exactly how it works for investments and you can’t use losses to offset more than your gains there, either >
  
  You can absolutely offset more than your gains, up to $3k a year, and if a given year is more than that, you can claim it on future taxes. >
  
  Someone needs to ask Trump on the record, today, if he is just as mentally and physically fit as he was when he left office, so that he can give a long explanation as to why he's more fit than anyone half his age...so that when his lawyer tries to have his sentence be for house arrest due to health issues, the judge can call bullshit and bring it up. >
  
  I love this idea >
  
  This article is a little odd. He keeps making statements like:
  
  But what Trump did again and again and again—taking expenses for businesses with no revenue—is so simple that jurors should have no trouble understanding the issues were Trump to be indicted by a federal or New York state grand jury.
  
  As if simply filing a Sch C (or similar state form) only claiming losses without revenue is itself illegal. It isn't. It is a red flag that the business doesn't exist though.  
  That is what happened in the New York case, as the article itself explains:
  
  Trump produced no receipts, no invoices, no work papers — nothing indicating the 1984 consulting business was more than a figment of his imagination.
  
  That was the actual problem. When they called Trump on his bluff, he had no cards. He appeared to be literally making the businesses up. That is what is illegal. 
  Especially since the losses don't exist at all in that situation. You can't get ahead through tax avoidance by purposely creating businesses to lose money. Because you'd actually be losing the money then, which would be greater than the amount you are "saving" on taxes. 
  So, for what has been released so far, the Sch Cs aren't some kind of proof that Trump made fraudulent claims. It is highly likely though. If he was actually audited or investigated and forced to provide proof of theses losses, it wouldn't be shocking if he had none because they're made up. Or that some were connected some other scheme. Same thing with the other issues addressed. 
  I just don't get why articles can't be clear about this. The title and many of his statements are misleading for no good reason. >
  
  2015: net operating losses of over hundred million -> donates 20 million to charity >
  
  I'm not sure why losses from his businesses would make it impossible for him to give money to charity. The tax returns don't really document how much money he has in the bank at any time. 
  Do I think he really gave $20 million to charity, or that he did with no self-dealing involved? No, but what we have now doesn't show that yet. >
  
  There's very little things that you can find on tax returns that would 100% conclude impossible. If the returns are accepted its already passed the hard stops. It sounds unlike anyone, especially Trump, would donate that amount on a bad year. 
  It more sounds like what someone else has suggested and massively overvalued or cycled money through donations >
  
  Haven't you heard? POS former POTUS says he has total immunity! He didn't specify but I'm guessing he just means blanket immunity for everything. Jan 6th, Mar a Lago papers, Georgia election fraud, tax fraud, etc.
  I'm not sure if he needs prison or a mental ward at this point tbh >
  
  Whichever one makes him more miserable is fine with me. >
  
  My ex-husband hasn’t paid income tax in over 30 years, makes $60-80,000 a month for 5-6 months a year and has since at least 2000. At that time, he owed $150,000 in taxes and has evaded them every year since. The IRS took $5,000. from me when I went back to work and was separated from him because I filed. He owes state taxes, too, to at least 4 states. NOTHING ever happens to him. He puts everything he owns in his girlfriend’s name so they can’t take it. 
  If someone like him can get away with it, certainly Trump will. As do every other megarich  SOB. >
  
  It'd be really funny when his GF realizes that since everything is her name, he doesn't really have shit and she can keep it all if they break up. >
  
  You would think, right! But she’s been with him for almost 15 years now and she is none the wiser. And he treats her like dirt. I used to feel sorry for her because she is from a really small town in AL, and she was so naive. But, 15 years? Yeah, good luck with that. >
  
  I mean if she were to find things were in her name, money has a way of making people figure things out... >
  
  She knows. She’s not real bright. 😄 >
  
  Damn you still watching his moves w his new chick after 15 years? >
  
  We have children together. Unfortunately, I still have to deal with him. >
  
  Well at least he gave you something good. >
  
  I dunno, he probably has a micro penis >
  
  I meant their children. Jeez. >
  
  If Al Capone can go to prison for tax evasion, then so can this orange piece of cheating shit. >
  
  The sad part is, if Al Capone lived today he would never have gone to prison for tax evasion. >
  
  Hell, if Al Capone lived today, he may have been President. >
  
  Didn’t Al Capone basically invent the concept of a soup kitchen? He provided regular meals to the unemployed during the Great Depression. 
  That’s better than anything the Cheeto stain has done in his entire life. I would literally vote for Al Capone over Donald fucking Trump. >
  
  He had a lot to do with getting expiration dates on milk and what not standardized too. Kind of interesting. >
  
  Trump committing crimes isn't news, although I still appreciate the author's work and OP for posting. My only point is that Trump is the most obvious white collar crook of all time, but he's allowed to get away with it. >
  
  What about Jarred? Do you suppose he paid taxes on the two billion he “borrowed” from Qatar? >
  
  You don't pay taxes on a loan. They will likely figure out some shenanigans though when the Saudis inevitably forgive the loan, just like Deutche bank did for Trump.
  Which reminds me, Did that forgiven loan show up on Trump's taxes? >
  
  Why would the Saudis forgive a loan they didn’t make? >
  
  Qatar refused to give him another loan.
  It was the Saudis he got the $2B from. >
  
  I swear, every single citizen needs to just refuse to file taxes this year until the rich start having to pay like the rest of us. >
  
  They don't go after the rich because it's hard.
  They do go after the poor because it's easy. >
  
  Can’t go after all of us. >
  
  Does the court system even have the resources to prosecute the entire populace at once???
  All it would take is enough people refusing to pay and we could cripple them.... >
  
  No. If even 10% of people that take a plea bargain said: “I want my day in court!” The court system would nearly instantly grind to a complete halt.
  Also, as I underhand it the only right to a speedy trial violations happen if the prosecution is the cause of the delay. If it’s the court itself, due to not having an opening until the seventh Tuesday of the sixth week of next February, that doesn’t matter and you may get to sit in jail and wait months for your day in court. >
  
  Pretrial incarceration proves that "innocent until proven guilty" is a lie.
  If I spent 3 months in jail and then the charges got dropped, someone owes me a big check or we're going to have a lot more problems. You just bought 3 months of my life and now you're going to pay up one way or another. >
  
  Pre-trial incarceration should only happen for people that are truly a danger to themselves, society or national security.
  Cash bail should go away in 98% of cases like yesterday, and we should be working on figuring out the last 2% ASAP. >
  
  I had a buddy once get held on a $100 bond.
  The insanity of spending thousands of dollars to keep somebody locked up just because they didn't have 100 bucks...
  Plus the absurdity that if he is truly a flight risk or a danger to the community, why would only a $100 convince the court to change their mind? >
  
  All the anger I see over an unjust system that rewards the rich and powerful... there are more of us than them. They know that. Don't forget it. Write your congress people to put an end to this kind of horse shit. Tell then your vote depends on it. More importantly, tell then you're a moderate and on the fence and that it's your most important issue. They'll listen if enough people complain. You're the reason they have power. Exercise your rights while you still can. >
  
  He should have been convicted well before 2016.   He bought off whoever he had to back then.   Those people need to be prosecuted too >
  
  They definitely need to chase down all the tendrils to the end and get everyone involved. I don’t care what letter is in front of their name. Get them all.
  Shit, I’m all for a full audit of all elected and appointed officials. Anyone found to have committed crimes is indicted appropriately and banned from office. Special Elections can be held for any role that had a criminal vacated from it. >
  
  Of all the things we can indict Trump with -- lying about election fraud, sending fake collectors to the electoral college, violently trying to overthrow American democracy -- and the only thing we can bag him for is tAX fRaUd.
  Our justice system is a joke. >
  
  Isn't that how they got Al Capone? >
  
  That's exactly how Al Capone got caught. >
  
  It’s like how The Joker says he’s even afraid of the IRS lol >
  
  This image would be the top selling NFT out of the whole collection. >
  
  So tax laws don't apply to the rich...
  Meanwhile regular assholes have to pay $100 for the software to make sense of our byzantine system.
  On top of a quarter of their salary in actual taxes.
  Fuck the IRS. >
  
  Trump's fellow mobster, Al Capone, was sent to Alcatraz prison for tax cheating. It was so much easier for them to prove than his other crimes that he ordered with mob boss double speak.  Sound familiar? >
  
  I am strongly in favor of restoring Alcatraz into a working facility just to contain this orange fuckstain. I want to be able to look out across the Bay and smile every time knowing that he’s rotting in there as he rightly deserves. >
  
  I love how there’s no statue of limitations on ALL of his tax fraud.  If they fine him for the amount he actually owes the courts could.  He will be in jail and penniless. >
  
  Statute >
  
  Let me tell you how Joe Shmoe is reacting. From the warehouse breakroom:  
  "You're just jealous."
  "So what? You'd do it, too." 
  "Taxation is theft. Trump was stealing his money back."
  "When do we see Hunter Biden's taxes?"
  "Just another witch hunt."   
  Yes, folks. People are not outraged by tax evasion. The collective brain pool of America has been warped by decades of Reaganism and libertarian bullshit. >
  
  It’s all based on their perception of people.
  For conservatives your actions don’t define whether you’re good or bad.
  I.e. Trump is by default good, so anything Trump does is by default good. So if Trump commits tax fraud that’s good, and any reason to explain why will suffice. >
  
  Best picture I’ve ever seen of this💩 >
  
  What they really need to do is compare the values he claims for his various real estate holdings on his taxes to the value he claims for those same properties when trying to get a loan from the banks.
  Because if they're radically different than one has to be fraud, probably both. Tax fraud, bank fraud, take your pick. >
  
  I could be wrong, but I think on income taxes you are reporting what you actually paid for the property, not what it's value is. Like if I buy a rental property for $100,000 in 2009, that's the number that goes on my depreciation schedule with my taxes every year, doesn't matter what the value does that number doesn't change. Then in 2022 I want to mortgage that property to buy another rental, I may tell the bank the house is worth $300,000.  That's not fraud, that is the actual value in 2022. What am I missing? >
  
  You may be missing this:
  Property doesn’t go from being worth $750k in 2010 to $50m—million—in 2011/2012.
  It’s not the act, it’s the scale and timing that indicate fraud.
  Have you ever heard of a property value increasing by 6,567% in ONE YEAR?
  This is not the family down the street trying to get a second mortgage for a passive income stream. This is someone who does not want to pay full price for anything and so uses any means necessary to avoid doing so. Including fraud, lots and lots of illegal fraud.
  Edit: this is shkreli-level fraud, lmfao >
  
  I get that, but would those valuation show up on an income tax return any where?  I have no doubt he's committed massive bank fraud, just not sure how income tax returns would prove that. >
  
  “Valuation” isn’t an income tax return thing. 
  The income tax return DOES have all those schedule c forms from his shell companies he uses to commit fraud, however. 13 of his 27 had expenses reported but no income. >
  
  What the most peons do not realize is that other fat cat billionaire fuckers also are getting away with just $750.
  Do you really think the fucker is the only one? Think about this as you file for your income tax.... >
  
  Everyone knows. >
  
  Then' where are the people who are dumping teas on Boston harbor?
  Too busy attending MAGA rally? >
  
  Well, what direct action are you taking, other than complaining that everyone else is too busy with life, family, work, health, etc, to go throw tea in the harbor?
  It’s a problem. It’s an outrage. Now I have to go grab groceries and run errands on one of my few days off. I apologize for not living up to your expectations, but I look forward to hearing about all you’re doing to fight this injustice. >
  
  Lock him up already. >
  
  Any business in this country whose employees need state subsidies whether it's food stamps,  medicaid, or utility assistance should be ineligible for any tax refunds, rebates, or write-offs. If the employees were paid adequately there wouldn't be any reason for them to obtain assistance. >
  
  I still don’t understand why he’s not being indicted.
  ARREST THE FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT. >
  
  Trump promised not to accept a salary while president.  Survey says: >
  
  Is it true he didn't even donate his salary?  After all the times I heard that crap... >
  
  Trump? Donate? After having his own charity foundation shit down due to it being a slush fund? Color me shocked! >
  
  Jail him and watch all his cult members cry haha it will make so many people across the planet so so happy >
  
  Yeah I remember the AMT.  
  It was SUPPOSED to stop shit just like this.  But instead it created just this.  
  I remember the first year it went into affect.  Instead of getting back a few grand I owed a few grand.  Asked my accountant why.  He said it’s the Alternative Minimum Tax.  What’s that I ask.  He tells me it was created to keep millionaires from taking all these deductions yet all it did was ensnare guys like me.  So once again the cottage industry of tax lawyers helped this guy pay nada but hurt the shit out of a schmuck like me.  
  That same year my ex that was collecting welfare got back about 4 grand because of the child tax credit.  
  So to my accountant I said so let me get this straight.  My ex…that is collecting welfare and paid NOTHING in is getting money BACK yet I owe…because of this one tax?
  He said “yep”.  
  YOU’RE BITTER!  I’M NOT BITTER.  I’M JUST THINKING THIS THROUGH OK??!!! >
  
  The guy has absolutely no regard for laws. His only deterrent is whether or not he thinks he could get away with it. Zero ethics and morality in that guy. The first criminal president.
  It's a sad state of affairs that someone like that could live his whole life as a 1%'er and even become president. Really drives home the lesson that life isn't fair. God / the universe don't gaf. >
  
  Why is nothing mentioned about the irs not auditing him during his presidency? >
  
  I don't understand this. How can millionaires and billionaires cheat on taxes but if I make a simple error on my taxes the IRS bills me? >
  
  Basically, the Republicans have gutted the IRS to the point where they no longer have the resources to go after rich tax cheats, who have armies of accountants and lawyers. >
  
  Also Brazenly revealing how massively inept the IRS is . >
  
  Time to knock these parasites down a few pegs this is ridiculous >
  
  We shall see how fair America is. >
  
  I wish I could just make up numbers on my tax returns and say my home is worth more than it is. If I did that, the IRS would jump so far down my throat they could peek out my asshole. >
  
  Lock him up. >
  
  Shocked face /s >
  
  Just like to say fake news the photo of him behind bars is so a bad photoshop job. 
  As if anyone believes his hands are that proportionate to his head.   
  I have the best bands.  Everybody says it.  Biggley hands. Just the greatest.  
  They tried to tell me others have better hands but I beat the hands.  
  All off em. 
  My Dr. Mentioned during my check up. 
  146.89% btw.  Tremendous health. 
  My Dr. Said he had never seen finer
  
    Normal
   
  hands.  
  The most perfect example of ‘Normal’ hands he never seen.  
  Truly amazing. 
  Truly. >
  
  To the surprise of no one >
  
  I've said all along the IRS would be the ones to take him down, just like Capone >
  
  Then you found out that the IRS couldn't even be bothered to do mandated audits on Trump while he was in office. >
  
  
  The Congressional report also notes another tax integrity issue I have spent years exposing: the least compliant taxpayers get away with wrongdoing because fighting them consumes vast amounts of limited government resources.  
  
  This confirms what a lot of us have long suspected about DJT’s supposed business genius.  1. He breaks the law.  2. He thinks he is smart because others aren’t doing the same.  3. The IRS does not punish him.  4. “See, it really is legit. Everyone else was wrong and I’m right. I am a genius,” he thinks. 5. “Donald Trump is a business genius!” bleat the MAGAs. >
  
  David Cay Johnston is the best financial reporter in the USA. >
  
  Makes a person wonder why any of us bother playing by the rules. If there’s one thing that’s going to be the death of this country, it’s the two tiered justice system. >
  
  How does this work on him getting a refund if he didn’t pay any taxes? No W2, no capital gains?? How ? Serious question >
  
  this is exceptional reporting and writing >
  
  Well, MOST of us knew he was a total fraud. >
  
  We’ll-written article that connects the dots in a simple way to follow. There are definitely bigger questions of why a crook was protected for so long and allowed to thrive as a criminal while acting as President? I wonder how many truly care, or are simply overwhelmed at this point with years of cover ups or other political leaders making excuses for bad behaviour? A sad tale for the ages. >
  
  This may as well be titled. “Every goddam rich person in this country’s tax cheating revealed” 
  Sub headline 
  “They specifically paid for our tax code to be set up to cheat” >
  
  Weird. Maybe if we... I don't know... demanded election finance reform? Not the sexiest of issues, but a goddamned important one.
  Fuck Mitch McConnell in particular for that one. "Ohhh, Republicans will be at a disadvantage. Wahhh." Why do you suppose that? Because your policy sucks elephant dick? >
  
  Time and time again, the news kept telling us that this guy is a crook! Everyone knows it by now and yet he's still out and doing whatever he wants. Whereas plebs like us get to go to jail in a snap of the authorities' finger! Wake me up when he's in jail! >
  
  thats a nice picture from the future. >
  
  They got Al Capone’s ass into prison for taxes. They can dump trumps ass into the same cell Capone occupied >
  
  This is the major problem with accountants these days. Your average accountant is held liable for filing your tax claims, so they scrutinize you to cover themselves.
  When you get high-dollar though, that all changes and they're now trying to aid in cheating on your taxes knowing (1) the likelihood of getting away with it and (2) the potential penalty/fines are lower than the profit earned.
  If I claim $10k in random expenses for my business, my accountant wants to see the receipts/proof. When he claims $1m in losses for nothing, their accountant says "well you're worth $1b on paper so $1m in losses adds up. Good enough for me!" >
  
  His “fans” somehow make sense of it through the craziest mental gymnastics.  As if they will ever have the wealth or power to get away with it themselves. 
  
  if his supporters stopped lying to themselves they would be able to admit they have been conned. >
  
  Lock him up
  Lock him up >
  
  This -- this piece but more broadly the subject matter -- is as much an indictment of American "capitalism" as any one criminal cheat. All the Federales say they could've had him any day, but they never did because crime is what little guys do. Sure, every once in awhile a Madoff or Skilling or Ken Lay gets made an example of to maintain the farce. >
  
  We as in the sane ones, already knew this. Too bad there are so many uneducated morons that follow him.  He’ll say they are lying and those idiots will believe him. >
  
  I’d pay 5% more to ensure the top 1% gets taken to court. The big wins will stop corruption and pay for themselves over time. >
  
  I cant count how many time trump suckers gleefully shouted down at me "but he donated his salary"  Not a single one of those chugglefucks have apologized for spreading those lies. >
  
  Yes agree he needs go jail >
  
  I’ll die laughing if he gets time for this before the other shit he’s done >
  
  Al Capone has entered the chat... >
  
  I don't think it is cheating if no one does anything about it. Laws should matter. >
  
  Cool.
  So you're going to prosecute him, right?
  Right? >
  
  Trump corporation is already convicted of 17 felonies where ya been. He has a trial date for October 2023 as well in NY with them asking for a minimum 250,000 (minimum) and he took the fifth over 500 times in the deposition for that case meaning 500 negative inferences for the jury to take that he is guilty.
  Simple answer yes he is already being prosecuted. >
  
  lol...didn't even make a blip in their grift. They raked in millions, stole classified documents, and are haven't faced any consequences that matter..."where ya been." >
  
  They got Capon on taxes, we’ll take it for Trump too. At least it would be a good start. >
  
  This picture is suitable for framing!