The Trump Tax Return Revealed!

The other day scientists released the first images of what they say is a “black hole.” Simply put it’s a place so dark, dangerous and powerful that matter is sucked into it never to be seen again. I could’ve saved these researchers a great deal of time and simply told them that Washington  has been by this definition a black hole for at least the last half century right in plain view. But I was glad to see that we are getting closer to the explanation of where the heck we are in this massive thing called the universe. But as of the date of this writing the other black hole known as Pres. Trump’s tax return remains undiscovered. But there is no reason to be in the dark any longer. After forty five years in practice and being a former IRS agent and IRS lawyer I can tell you exactly what is in those tax returns. First, let’s say the tax return itself is huge, probably thirty or more pages long. It carries an almost innumerable number of schedules cross referenced to each other making the most serious inquiry of no real value. Entries refer to other corporations, partnerships and entities which no one has ever heard of. Any attempt to pursue any of these leads, called in the business a “daisy chain,” will only result in more paper, more schedules, and more cross-references that lead nowhere. While the tax return may in fact be prepared by some accounting firm those other entities, corporations and partnerships have their own mathematical accounting wizards who dream up the numbers and schedules that they file. This type of tax return does not in any way provide a complete and honest picture of anyone’s financial situation. It is filled with tax “positions.” By having numerous chefs making the soup, you see, no one can be held accountable least of all the President of the United States who I can guarantee you could not explain the entries on the tax return at all, even if he wanted to. Therefore it would be a waste of time to even ask him. If this massive document was in fact released it would be of no use to the Congress or anyone else. Ordinary taxpayers think that releasing the president’s tax return will reveal some dark secrets in his present or past. That it will confirm their suspicions. They are thinking that his tax return is like the lowly document they themselves have filed. Any IRS agent with ten minutes experience or training can tell you a great deal about the ordinary taxpayer’s financial life looking at their tax return: a job, some interest, a few dividends, real estate taxes, mortgage interest, and a contribution that he most likely cannot verify. There are no complicated cross-references or schedules. There are no esoteric partnerships, corporations or other entities from places unheard of in the world. There are no tax “positions.” So I think we must relax about this issue of getting this tax return. Why even waste the energy? Whether tax returns are made public or not in cases like Donald Trump they will tell no story other that in a tax system like ours people with abundant wealth and vast business dealings make a mockery of the entire system of tax administration at the expense of everyone else and that should come as news to no one.