Harry Reid Could View Romney Tax Returns, With Help From Senate Republicans

Source: Huff Post

WASHINGTON -- Although Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney refuses to release his tax returns from the years prior to 2010, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama and key members of Congress could all view any tax document that Romney has filed. Under some circumstances, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could even verify whether his anonymous Bain investor was telling the truth that Romney "didn't pay any taxes for 10 years."

According to Title 26 of U.S. Code Section 6103, the treasury secretary can disclose any personal tax return to the president "or to such employee or employees of the White House Office as the President may designate."

Members of Congress can also access Romney's earlier tax returns by making a written request to Geithner. The Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation are all mentioned as committees that can access individual tax returns. The chairman of any other congressional committee can also obtain access for his or her entire panel, provided the request meets one caveat:

"A request by anyone except a tax-writing committee has to be accompanied by a Senate or House resolution," said Rebecca Wilkins, senior tax counsel at Citizens for Tax Justice.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/harry-reid-romney-taxes_n_1821491.html