Page 1 of 6 12345 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 138
  1. #1
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Post Count
    32,408
    Here’s What Romney’s Unreleased Tax Returns Almost Certainly Hide
    Brian Beutler January 5, 2012, 5:32 AM


    Mitt Romney still says he’s unlikely to publicly release his tax information, even if he clinches the Republican presidential nomination, and Democrats have a pretty good idea why.

    Romney is a privileged poster child for the “Buffett Rule” — President Obama’s principle that the tax code should make it impossible for a person of great wealth to pay a lower share of their income in taxes as than ordinary people. The DNC knows it, policy wonks know it, Romney certainly knows it. But the reasons why are technical and illustrate just how different Romney is from the vast majority of Americans who will cast votes for him — in either the GOP primary or the general election.

    One tax expert told TPM of “fairly sophisticated tax strategies” that would be “not available to ordinary tax payers.” A technique that puts you in a position that’s “like having an unlimited 401k account” sounds very attractive. But maybe not if you’re running for office, for Pete’s sake.

    When Romney jokes that he’s been unemployed for years, he’s obscuring the fact that he’s still collecting millions of dollars of investment income, which is taxed at a much lower rate than it would be if he, like most taxpayers, took home a regular paycheck. He’s also obscuring the fact a great deal of that same income is only vaguely connected to his own underlying investments, and yet benefits from a key loophole in the tax code that allows him and other wealthy finance veterans to more than halve their effective tax rate.
    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...e-tax-rate.php

    Where is Ann Richards when you need her?

  2. #2
    Veteran Wild Cobra's Avatar
    My Team
    Portland Trailblazers
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Post Count
    43,117
    What chapter of the CWA (Class Warfare Association) do you belong to anyway? I'm sure other here would like to join you.

  3. #3
    I play pretty, no? TeyshaBlue's Avatar
    My Team
    Dallas Mavericks
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Post Count
    13,321
    Here’s What Romney’s Unreleased Tax Returns Almost Certainly Hide
    Brian Beutler January 5, 2012, 5:32 AM




    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...e-tax-rate.php

    Where is Ann Richards when you need her?
    Shes always had my vote.

  4. #4
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    All that crap just to say that most of his income is from capital gains?

    Gee. What a surprise.

  5. #5
    Veteran
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    97,536
    He receives "fee income" from Bain which is taxed as capital gains 14% when, like fund managers, he's not making money gambling with his own capital, but is paid a fee for service for managing Other People's Money, a professional fee like a doctor or a lawyer receives on which they pay earned income rates. This fund mgr's loophole is just another way the 1% buys the privilege, obtains the policies they pay for.

  6. #6
    Displaced 101A's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Post Count
    7,711
    What chapter of the CWA (Class Warfare Association) do you belong to anyway? I'm sure other here would like to join you.
    I actually agree that income ought to equal income. I thought you supported a flat tax, after all? It is B.S. that my EARNED income is taxed at such a higher rate that Romney's UNEARNED.

  7. #7
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    Sounds like he was just following the law. Nobody is obligated to pay more in taxes than they are legally required to pay.

  8. #8
    Displaced 101A's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Post Count
    7,711
    Sounds like he was just following the law. Nobody is obligated to pay more in taxes than they are legally required to pay.
    Can't disagree, however, it is right to assume, legality notwithstanding, that disclosure of those strategies could be problematic.

    In a democracy, practices that SO MANY citizens might take issue with, ought to be examined as to their merit. Vast loopholes, and reduced rates for people who derive their income through investment, certainly should be included in that.

  9. #9
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    @CC: like 101A just said, the law is inequitable. but hey, defend an unfair status quo since it suits you so well.

  10. #10
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    @CC: like 101A just said, the law is inequitable. but hey, defend an unfair status quo since it suits you so well.
    I'm not necessarily defending it, but if he was paying more taxes than he was legally obligated to pay I would think he was stupid.

    As for doing away with capital gains, do you own a house? If so, you bought it with the money you had left over after you paid the taxes on your income. When you finally sell it, do you really want your gain taxed again at 40%?

  11. #11
    Veteran
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Post Count
    2,031
    I guess I do not see the point. Is Romney running on abolishing capital gains tax? Last I read, he wants to keep the capital gains tax the same for the wealthy and lower it for middle income earners.

    I wish capital gains was taxed at the same rate earned income is taxed. But its not like Romney is going Warren Buffet on us. He isn't making stupid comments about how taxation is unfair and he should be paying more than his secretary.

    Romney is a rich man who makes more than I probably ever will. Romney no longer has a job but makes millions off of previous investments. Where is the story here?

  12. #12
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    As for doing away with capital gains, do you own a house? If so, you bought it with the money you had left over after you paid the taxes on your income. When you finally sell it, do you really want your gain taxed again at 40%?
    not really, but income is income.

  13. #13
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    Where is the story here?
    it's customary for presidential candidates to release their tax returns. Romney is breaking custom. It makes it look like he's got something to hide.

  14. #14
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    not really, but income is income.
    Is it? Typically houses just appreciate at about the same rate as inflation. You may sell the house for more dollars than you paid for it but those dollars are worth less. Is it really fair to have to pay 40% tax on it again?

  15. #15
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    you have a point there. perhaps real estate gains ought not to be treated the same as windfalls from other types of investment.

  16. #16
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    you have a point there. perhaps real estate gains ought not to be treated the same as windfalls from other types of investment.
    Why is it different from any other investment held long term?

  17. #17
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    good question. not sure.

    now we're back to income is income.

  18. #18
    right about pizzagate Blake's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Post Count
    83,642
    Why is it different from any other investment held long term?
    Intentions are different.

  19. #19
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    one can lives on land or in a house; that is different. the land itself may be naturally productive, that is another.

  20. #20
    Veteran
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    97,536
    Is it? Typically houses just appreciate at about the same rate as inflation. You may sell the house for more dollars than you paid for it but those dollars are worth less. Is it really fair to have to pay 40% tax on it again?
    profit form selling primary residence is still tax free, right?

  21. #21
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    Intentions are different.
    What do you mean by this?

    Lets say I take the money I have left after paying my ordinary income taxes in 1970 and buy stock in company X.

    Company X pays federal taxes from 1970 to 2012.

    Lets say that in dollars my stock price has doubled in 42 years, but in inflation adjusted dollars the stock is worth the same or less.

    Now when I sell this stock in 2012 I have a profit of 100% in dollars but 0% in inflation adjusted dollars.

    Are you saying I should owe 40% of this non-profit in additional tax?

  22. #22
    Independent DMX7's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Post Count
    22,149
    I applaud the wise-ass remark, "for Pete's sake". I laughed.

  23. #23
    dangerous floater Winehole23's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Post Count
    113,917
    hey CC, is boutons right?

  24. #24
    I play pretty, no? TeyshaBlue's Avatar
    My Team
    Dallas Mavericks
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Post Count
    13,321
    profit form selling primary residence is still tax free, right?
    Sometimes.

    http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question...5063046AAQYzS4

  25. #25
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Post Count
    44,136
    profit form selling primary residence is still tax free, right?
    Up to a certain point the income can be excluded.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •