Lots of folks are trying to get their hands on Trump's tax returns. Here's how I did it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Kevin M. Kruse Retweeted

Lots of folks are trying to get their hands on Trump’s tax returns.

His personal returns are still secret, but I found a work-around to his businesses’ tax filings that revealed those financials didn’t always match what he told a lender.

Here’s how I did it.

Link to tweet

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On the city’s website, I discovered a way to obtain the buildings’ property tax filings:

Tax returns are private -- but when you appeal the city’s property valuation, you have to file a public form with financial info on it.

…..Guess who’s a serial tax appealer?

Link to tweet

[klook]

1. Pro Publica reporter

Recommended. Link to Pro Publica story:
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-inc-podcast-never-before-seen-trump-tax-documents-show-major-inconsistencies

Thanks for posting.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Well done Ms. Vogell!

I think this MF bastard underestimates the determination of those who wish to bring him down. I don't believe they will stop until the mission has been accomplished.

[iluvtennis]

8. + 1

[MineralMan]

3. Oh, snap! Great work.

Property data is often public, it seems. For example, I couldn't find my 2018 Property Tax bill, which I needed to apply for my Homestead property tax refund in Minnesota. What do do?

Well, I just went to the property tax website for my county and input the address of my house. Up popped a list of documents I could look at, including the one I needed. So, I clicked and printed and was done. At no time did I have to enter my name or any identification at all. My property tax bill was just one of the documents listed there, and showed recent payments made on those taxes.

There was information on my mortgage there, too, if I wanted that.

The point is that the website didn't care who was looking for that information. It's public information. I used it once to find the address of the owner of a rental property near mine where nobody was taking care of keeping the weeds from growing in the back yard. I sent a nice letter to the owner that mentioned vermin and health risks. Someone showed up a couple of days later and cut down the weeds.

Property information is public information.

[Hekate]

4. Sometimes you just have to ask yourself: what is public information? and go for it.

Heather Vogell, you rock

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Amazing how long it has taken

for someone to figure this out. A half way decent investigative reporter could have done the same.

Hey,there it is,now run with it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Heather's story, and thread, should be required reading for young reporters. A superb example....

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

Heather's story, and thread, should be required reading for young reporters. A superb example of dogged and focused reporting that not only addresses big, perplexing Qs surrounding Trump's $$$, but provides answers by evaluating them systematically & exploring causal links.

Link to tweet

[Farmer-Rick]

7. I don't think appealing assessments on your property is wrong.

I just have to wonder why Trump got away with such obvious under valuation.

I appeal my farm's assement regularly too. I don't think the tax assessor should value my property for more than I can sell it for. But, when it's down to a realistic number, my appeal is denied. Why weren't Trump's assessments realistic and obvious under valuation appeals denied?

[IronLionZion]

9. Stable genius has a lot of real estate

and there must be a lot of property tax documents publicly available.

Well done Ms. Vogell

This MFer is going down sooner or later, for something or another.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Certainly in Virginia. He bought the old Kluge place outside Charlottesville. NT

[TryLogic]

11. Nice going. Good work.

[onetexan]

12. Now that this has been exposed the Idiot will have his lawyers send threatening letters

Demanding his public records be locked down and removed from public access claiming executive privilege, damn the FOIA laws.

[DinahMoeHum]

13. Thread Reader App version here, all together. . .

Have fun!!!! And thanks, Heather Vogell!!!



https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1185231442583924736.html

[Hermit-The-Prog]

16. thanks for the link

[FakeNoose]

14. Excellent reporting and awesome analysis!

Well done Heather Vogell and ProPublica!
New York State will put Chump in jail even if the federal government doesn't.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. ProPublica also has a YouTube video on this. . .

[mgardener]

17. This from the guy

Who says he loves police and first responders
Yet does not love them enough to pay his fair share of taxes so they can be paid
Impeach Trump!

[PatrickforO]

18. Why, that scamp! He even cheats on taxes and lies to lenders!

And here he is our president.

Gosh, what could go wrong?

[patphil]

19. My guess it that SDNY has this also.

Trump wouldn't be the first real estate player to fudge his numbers for loans and taxes.

[Moostache]

20. No he would not be the first...but he can join the rest in prison!!! Lock Him UP!!!(n/t)