A NEW YORK Times report that US President Donald Trump paid just $750 (€643) in federal income tax the year he entered the White House — and, thanks to colossal losses, no income tax at all in 11 of the 18 years the Times reviewed — served to raise doubts about Trump’s self-image as a shrewd and successful businessman.
Here are some key points from the Times report:
1. Trump paid just $750 (€643) in taxes in both 2016 and 2017
The newspaper said Trump initially paid $95 million dollars (about €81 million) in taxes over the 18 years it studied.
But he managed to recover most of that money by claiming, and receiving, a stunning $72.9 million dollar (€62.5 million) federal tax refund.
According to the Times, Trump also pocketed $21.2 million (€18.2 million) in state and local refunds, which are typically based on federal filings.
Trump’s outsize refund became the subject of a now long-standing Internal Revenue Service audit of his finances. The audit was widely known.
Trump has claimed it was the very reason why he cannot release his returns. But the Times report is the first to identify the issue that was mainly in dispute.
As a result of the refund, Trump paid an average $1.4 million (€1.2 million) in federal taxes from 2000 to 2017, the Times reported.
By contrast, the average US taxpayer in the top 0.001% of earners paid about $25 million (€21.4 million) annually over the same timeframe.
2. Trump has financed an extravagant lifestyle with the use of business expenses
From his homes, his aircraft – and $70,000 (€60,000) on hair-styling during his television show The Apprentice – Trump has capitalised on cost incurred from his businesses to finance a luxurious lifestyle.
The Times noted that Trump’s homes, planes and golf courses are part of the Trump family business and, as such, Trump classified them as business expenses as well.
Because companies can write off business expenses as deductions, all such expenses have helped reduce Trump’s tax liability.
3. Many of his best-known businesses are money-losers
The president has frequently pointed to his far-flung hotels, golf courses and resorts as evidence of his success as a developer and businessman. Yet these properties have been been draining money.
The Times reported that Trump has claimed $315 million (€270 million) in losses since 2000 on his golf courses, including the Trump National Doral near Miami, which he has portrayed as a crown jewel in his business empire.
Trump International Doonbeg in Co Clare and his two hotels and courses in Scotland have suffered joint loss of $63.3 million (€54 million).
Likewise, his Trump International Hotel in Washington has lost $55 million (€47.2 million), the Times reported.
4. Foreign visitors have helped support Trump’s properties
Since Trump began his presidential run, lobbyists, foreign governments and politicians have lavished significant sums of money on his properties, a spending spree that raised questions about its propriety and legality.
The Times report illustrates just how much that spending has been.
Since 2015, his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida has taken in $5 million (€4.3 million) more a year from a surge in membership.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association spent at least $397,602 (€341,000) in 2017 at Trump’s Washington hotel.
Overseas projects have produced millions more for Trump – $3 million (€2.6 million) from the Philippines, $2.3 million (€1.97 million) from India and $1 million dollars (€857,600) from Turkey.
5. Trump will face financial pressure as debts become due
Trump seems sure to face heavy financial pressures from the enormous pile of debt he has absorbed.
The Times said the president appears to be responsible for $421 million (€361 million) in loans, most of which will become due within four years.
On top of that, $100 million (€85.8 million) mortgage on Trump Tower in New York will become due in 2022.
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