is this possible re: mitt's refusal to submit his tax returns?

[niyad]

a friend and I were just talking about mittwit and the possibility (as mentioned here on DU)
that he considers his tithes part of that 13.9 % he claims he pays. she wondered if one of the reasons he doesn't want to release his taxes is so that the church doesn't find out that he is cheating them as well. from what I have seen amoung church members (having been a guest at a friend's house when the local board came to remind them how much she owed) not sure this is likely, but is it?
(mind you, this discussion is being held BEFORE the second cup of coffee)

[KharmaTrain]

1. He's Cheating Everyone...

His church, the government, his emplyees and stockholders...if there's a way for him to keep a buck for himself he'll take it. These are his claims...and we don't know if that 13.9% is before he took deductions or after. I'm bettin' Harry Reid is right...he's paid ZERO taxes for many years by using loopholes and offshoring huge sums of money. Since there's no accountability here any and all speculation goes...the only way he ends that speculation is release the returns...but he won't.

[Pachamama]

3. Perfect summary of Romney: "He's Cheating Everyone - Church, Govt, Employees & Stockholders.."

Well said.....

[kestrel91316]

9. BINGO

[bushisanidiot]

2. My guess is that he claimed to have tithed MUCH more to the Mormon church

Than he actually did, in order to get a higher deduction.

In other words, I think he is USNG THE MORMON CHURCH as a tax evasion vehicle. He knows th IRS cannot audit the Mormon church to verify that he paid what he claims.

I also believe the Mormon church is in on the scam to help romney, one their biggest donors.

[unblock]

4. his claim is that he paid 13.9% against his agi, and a higher percentage if you add tithing.

although the idea that adding in tithing should count is ludicrous.
why should deductions count as taxes?


here's a link to an article about his tithing. keep in mind the figures for tax rate 2011 are estimates:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kaipetainen/2012/01/24/what-romneys-tax-forms-can-teach-us-and-mormons-about-tithing/

Tithing Based on Adjusted Gross Income
In 2010, Romney’s adjusted gross income was $21,646,507 and he would tithe $1,525,000 to The Church of Latter-Day Saints. The tithe would represent a 7.0% tithe to the church – below the 10% rule that is set by the church. In 2011, Romney’s adjusted gross income was $20,901,075 and he would tithe $2,600,000 to the church. That tithe would represent a 12.4% tithe to the church – above the 10% rule. If you take the two tithes together, it would create an overall tithe that was 9.7% of the adjusted gross income. In other-words, his tithing was just below the 10% rule, and he would ‘catch-up’ in tithing in 2011. If he would’ve donated $100,000 more in 2011, he would have hit the 10% rule.

Tithing Based on Taxable Income
If we look at taxable income, then Romney would donate 8.9% of his income in 2010. That would represent a tithe that was still less than 10% of his taxable income – again, a possible violation of the 10% rule. However, if Romney was ‘slipping’ in his church duties, then he made up for it in 2011 as he would tithe 17.1% of his taxable income. This would create an overall tithing rate of 12.8% — above the 10% tithing rule.

[Pachamama]

5. I believe that he has done multiple things on his returns that would reveal not just that he has not

....paid the expected tithe to the Mormon Church (which would be a HUGE embaressment for a Mormon Bishop to have done) but that includes info demonstrating that his residency was in another state (CA) when he voted in MA (voter fraud) and that it reveals he paid next to no taxes due to tax shelters overseas and that finally he pleaded guilty to the felony under the "Son of Marriott" tax forgiveness period.

It is atleast one or multiple if not all and who knows, more?

The bottom line is that even the most ardent supporters and especially the religious ones will be very concerned and torn if it was revealed what a cheat and liar Romney is.

[lunatica]

6. You're friend may be on to something there

Cheats cheat about everything and whenever they feel they can get away with it.

[NV Whino]

7. I have long thought that he skimped on his tithing

Pissing off the IRS is nothing to pissing off the Mormon church.

[Frustratedlady]

8. But, his tithing (low or high) could also have been done on a fictional income

In other words, if he was hiding millions in foreign countries/islands, I can't imagine he was tithing on income that was part of those amounts.

For instance, in 2008-09 (I believe) when Obama said he was going after these clowns to get some revenue, if Romney was granted amnesty but some of his actual income was hidden in Swiss banks or the Caymans, the IRS may have been satisfied, but the Mormon Church would have had their eyes opened on Mr. Mitt.