Trump got a $21 million tax break for saving the forest outside his N.Y. mansion. Now the deal is under investigation.

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Five years ago, Donald Trump promised to preserve more than 150 acres of rolling woodlands in an exclusive swath of New York suburbia prized for its luxury homes and rural tranquility.

In exchange for setting aside this land on his estate known as Seven Springs, Trump received a tax break of $21.1 million, according to court documents.

The size of Trump’s tax windfall was set by a 2016 appraisal that valued Seven Springs at $56.5 million — more than double the value assessed by the three Westchester County towns that each contained a piece of the property. Continue reading.

Want to Know More About: The Trump Family’s Tax Scheme

Mika Brzezinski: “According To The Special Investigation, Trump Is Earning $200,000 In Today’s Money By The Age Of Three And Was A Millionaire By The Age Of 8.” MIKA BRZEZINSKI: “President trump did plenty of impressions last night, including repeatedly mocking the memory of Dr. Christine blasey Ford who has accused supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her as a one thing he did not bring up was that sweeping expose. The headline is jarring, quote, trump ebb gauge in suspect tax schemes as he reaped riches from his father. According to the special investigation, trump is earning $200,000 in today’s money by the age of three and was a millionaire by the age of 8.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 10/3/18; VIDEO]

Willie Geist: “But The Long And Short Of It Is According To The New York Times, Through Tax Schemes, Donald Trump And His Family, He Arrived At About $413 Million From His Father, Not The $1 Million Loan He Suggested.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 10/3/18; VIDEO]

Mika Brzezinski: “He Also Helped Formulate A Strategy To Undervalue His Parents’ Real Estate Holdings By Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars On Tax Returns, Sharply Reducing The Tax Bill When Those Properties Were Transferred To Him And His Siblings.” MIKA BRZEZINSKI: “New York Times expose that appears to shatter the president’s claim of being a self-made billionaire while implicating him in sketchy, possibly illegal tax schemes. The 19 month long investigation found that temp received today’s equivalent of $400 million from his father’s real estate empire beginning as a toddler and continuing to this day. As the “Times” reports much of the money came from trump because he helped his parents dodge taxes in the 1990s. He and his siblings set up a sham corporation to disguise millions of dollars in gifts from their parents, records and interviews show, records indicate that trump helped his father take improper tax deductions worth millions more. He also helped formulate a strategy to undervalue his parents’ real estate holdings by hundreds of millions of dollars on tax returns, sharply reducing the tax bill when those properties were transferred to him and his siblings. Tax experts tell the “Times” that the president is unlikely to face criminal prosecution for tax evasion because the statute of limitations has passed on any possible wrongdoing. But as the “Times” reports, there is no time limit on civil fines for tax frauds. The New York state damages department is reviewing the allegations.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 10/3/18; VIDEO] Continue reading “Want to Know More About: The Trump Family’s Tax Scheme”

Why it’s too soon for Davos billionaires to toast Trump’s ‘pro-business’ policies

The following article by Charles Hankla, Associate Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University, was posted on the Conversation website January 29,2018:

SAP CEO Bill McDermott and Siemens chief Joe Kaeser flank Trump as they praise him for his tax cut. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The moguls of global business, who met recently in Davos for the World Economic Forum, may not like Donald Trump’s style. But, if a series of reports by The New York Times and other outlets are to be believed, Trump’s pro-business policies are making it easier for them to forgive his foibles.

Klaus Schwab, the head of the forum, put it this way as he introduced President Trump before his Jan. 26 speech: “On behalf of the business leaders here in this room, let me particularly congratulate you for the historic tax reform [that is] fostering job creation while providing a tremendous boost to the world economy.” Continue reading “Why it’s too soon for Davos billionaires to toast Trump’s ‘pro-business’ policies”

Trump defends new tax-cut bill amid negative polls

The following article by Olivia Beavers was posted on the Hill website December 24, 2017:

© Getty Images

President Trump on Sunday touted provisions in the recently-passed GOP tax plan, while pushing back against polls that indicate the measure is unpopular among the U.S. public.

“The Tax Cut/Reform Bill, including Massive Alaska Drilling and the Repeal of the highly unpopular Individual Mandate, brought it all together as to what an incredible year we had,” Trump tweeted. Continue reading “Trump defends new tax-cut bill amid negative polls”

GOP Goes for Win on Taxes, Consequences Be Damned

The following article was posted on the AlterNet website November 29, 2017:

Republicans will do anything for a win, including hurting their constituents.

Credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock

An entire year of legislative defeats has grated on the GOP.

Their promised Affordable Care Act repeal failed – again and again and again. Their Muslim ban was, well, banned by the courts. And now, in the waning days of November, their infrastructure bill, big beautiful border wall and brand new NAFTA are all missing.

Republicans have lost so much, they’re downright desperate for a win. And that’s why they’re pushing a tax scam supported by a mere 25 percent of Americans, according to the latest Quinnipiac Poll.

They’ve just got to rack up a win, consequences and American workers be damned. They’re so desperate that GOP Sen. Bob Corker, a self-described deficit hawk, agreed in committee Tuesday to send the bill to the floor for a vote after he got promises for changes. What he wants is cancellation of the bill’s tax breaks if they don’t stimulate economic expansion as Republicans say they will. The GOP keeps swearing the cuts will cause growth despite the fact that the Bush tax breaks didn’t and despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects the cuts will add $1.44 trillion to the deficit.   Continue reading “GOP Goes for Win on Taxes, Consequences Be Damned”