How Much Does Donald Trump Pay in Taxes? It Could Be Zero

[spanone]

Mitt Romney was excoriated during the 2012 presidential campaign for paying $4.9 million in federal income tax, or an average of just 14 percent of his adjusted gross income, in the two years for which he released returns.

No one should be surprised, though, if Donald J. Trump has paid far less — perhaps even zero federal income tax in some years. Indeed, that’s the expectation of numerous real estate and tax professionals I’ve interviewed in recent weeks.

Even with hundreds of millions in gross revenue from his vast real estate empire, “it’s both possible and legal that Donald Trump would pay little or no income tax,” said Len Green, an accountant and chairman of the Green Group, a tax and accounting advisory firm. Mr. Green is also a real estate investor, teaches at Babson College and is the author of the forthcoming “The Entrepreneur’s Playbook.”

“I would expect he’s paying little or no tax,” agreed Steven M. Rosenthal, a veteran tax lawyer and senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy center.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/12/business/how-much-does-donald-trump-pay-in-taxes-it-could-be-zero.html

[Warpy]

1. His empire is only half vast

He's famous for putting up white elephants with his name on them and then selling them when the cash flow gets a little too restricted to allow him to over borrow to put up another one. He stipulates keeping his name on them so people will think he owns them. He doesn't.

A close inspection would show a man who borrows as much as he can, stiffs employees, contractors and suppliers, cuts corners on living spaces (Trump Tower was infamous for needing to have the builder's grade kitchen ripped out first thing), and blows money on lobby glitz to provide a suitable backdrop for his press announcements.

Trump is a Wild West stage set. Go through the swinging doors of the saloon, you see raw plywood and braces holding up the front facade and that's it.

[MANative]

2. Here in NYC, we look at his business exploits, especially in the last 20 years, as a licensing...

bonanza. He's a true pro at that and gets his name on projects for virtual pennies, making it appear that he's got far more skin in the game than he really has. He hasn't been a "builder" in decades.

[yeoman6987]

3. He said it's as little as possible.

[Egnever]

4. If he isn't paying nearly zero he is a crappy businessman.

He should have more than enough holdings to shuffle the money around to reduce his effective tax rate to near zero. Not to mention many of his properties are likely bleeding money.