This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-tax-returns-white-house-president-2005-income-a7630436.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Donald Trump tax returns: White House releases President's financial papers from 2005 Donald Trump tax returns: White House releases President's financial papers from 2005
(35 minutes later)
The White House has released details of Donald Trump’s income made - and tax he paid – as a property mogul, after a leading US television host claimed to have obtained part of the President tax returns. The White House has released details of Donald Trump’s income and tax returns before he was President.
They reportedly show that the Republican billionaire made more than $150 million in income in 2005 and paid $38 million in income taxes that year.  They show that the Republican billionaire made more than $150 million in income in 2005 and paid $38 million in income taxes that year. 
The acknowledgement comes as MSNBC host Rachel Maddow claims she has obtained part of Mr Trump's 2005 tax forms.  The acknowledgement comes as MSNBC host Rachel Maddow claimed she had obtained part of Mr Trump's tax forms from that year. 
It was unclear who was behind the apparent leak. Unconfirmed rumours claimed the Trump administration may even have been behind the leak, although the White House released a strongly-worded statement condemning the "illegal" action.
Mr Trump refused to release his tax returns during the campaign, claiming he was under audit. Mr Trump refused to release his tax returns during the campaign, claiming he was under audit. 
The White House has said publishing those returns would be illegal, with a spokesperson commenting: "You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago."  The White House said publishing those returns would be illegal and launched another attack on the "dishonest media".
The White House added that it was "totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns" and launched another attack on the "dishonest media".
The full statement from the Trump administration said: “You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago.The full statement from the Trump administration said: “You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago.
“Before being elected President, Mr. Trump was one of the most successful businessmen in the world with a responsibility to his company, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required.“Before being elected President, Mr. Trump was one of the most successful businessmen in the world with a responsibility to his company, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required.
“That being said, Mr. Trump paid $38 million dollars even after taking into account large scale depreciation for construction, on an income of more than $150 million dollars, as well as paying tens of millions of dollars in other taxes such as sales and excise taxes and employment taxes and this illegally published return proves just that.“That being said, Mr. Trump paid $38 million dollars even after taking into account large scale depreciation for construction, on an income of more than $150 million dollars, as well as paying tens of millions of dollars in other taxes such as sales and excise taxes and employment taxes and this illegally published return proves just that.
“Despite this substantial income figure and tax paid, it is totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns.“Despite this substantial income figure and tax paid, it is totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns.
“The dishonest media can continue to make this part of their agenda, while the President will focus on his, which includes tax reform that will benefit all Americans.”“The dishonest media can continue to make this part of their agenda, while the President will focus on his, which includes tax reform that will benefit all Americans.”
The story emerged after respected US reporter David Cay Johnston said he received the President’s tax return in the post from an unknown source.  The story emerged after respected US reporter David Cay Johnston said he received the President’s tax return in the post from an unknown source.  
The full details of the tax returns have not yet been released by MSNBC. Pre-empting that release, the White House made public Mr Trump's financial details from 2005.
Democrats and some Republicans have spent months calling for the tax returns to be released, arguing that they could show whether his global business empire posed a conflicts of interest.
Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding that the President immediately release his full tax returns, "with all information needed to verify emoluments clause compliance". 
A Washington Post/ABC News poll in January found that 74 per cent of Americans - including 49 per cent of Mr Trump’s own supporters - wanted him to release his returns.
There is no law that demands the President release his returns.
But Mr Trump is the first President in American history to be so opaque regarding his taxes.
More follows…More follows…