Experts: Palin Owes $25,000 In Back Taxes

WSJ:

Several tax experts said they believe Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin is required to pay federal taxes on $25,000 in reimbursements from the state of Alaska for her children's travel expenses.

The Alaska governor released her 2006 and 2007 tax returns on Friday, sparking a lively debate on tax blogs and among tax professionals over whether reimbursements and per-diem meal payments from the state should be subject to federal taxes. Since taking office in December 2006, Gov. Palin, whose state salary is $125,000 a year, received reimbursements totaling $43,500 for travel and lodging for her family in connection with state business. Of that total, $25,000 was for her children's travel and the rest was for her husband, Todd, the Washington Post reported.

Read the whole story: WSJ

Comments

[soupson52]

Huffington, PLEASE correct this headline. Accuracy is esential here.

[BBDisk]

For all you patriotic tax-payers out there:

http://tinyurl.com/PATRIOT-TAX

[joeyp404]

The experts must be as competent as the headline writers here.

[sammy50]

HP ya need to read the articles you post. The tax people, who don't know how her return was calculated by H&R Block, are postulating she might owe tax on $25k of additional income, not $25k in extra taxes.

At a 15% tax rate, that’s under $4k in extra taxes which is far less than what I hve had to pay a number of times.

She, like the rest of us, reported income based on her w-2.

What she shld hve done was hve Al Franken prepare her return.

[TroubleNYC]

People who don't want to be part of the country don't believe in paying taxes.

[suec03]

Please be more careful writing your headlines! HuffPost credibility is at stake! The article says she needs to pay taxes ON $25,000.00­, NOT that she OWES $25,000.00­. Unless she is in a 100% tax bracket, your headline is grossly misleading. This is a close race. We want Sen. Obama to win. It is important that progressives be careful with the facts, not sloppy!

[TheRealMacDaddy]

After doing a little research, apparently these "Tax Experts" must be being paid by the McCain/Palin Campaign.

IRS Pub. 463, clearly shows that Sarah Palin has to claim that $17,000 in Per Diem. Additionally, IRS Pub 525 clearly shows the Travel of Gov. Palin's family is also reportable-taxable income.

The woman is a TAX CHEAT and should be Prosecuted just like "Joe Six-Pack" would be if they did the same things.

[Robespierre]

Hello IRS, I'd like to talk to you about someone who misrepresented their income on their tax returns. ;-)

[vmurray575]

I HATE, and I MEAN HAAAAATE this beatch. However, she does not owe $25,000 in back taxes. She owes taxes on $25,000 of unreported income. VERY different story.

[JT16682]

Taxes, what taxes? Only people in the Lower 48 and Hawaii pay taxes! (Rings a bell to Leona Helmsley?)

[CTagainstPalin]

We are expecting low voter turn-out in CT. Why? The GOP is expected to sit this one out. Their disastrous ticket will cause a Democratic landslide at all levels and they know the writing is on the wall.

Obama/Biden '08

[Ivygreen]

Too bad lieberman's not up in this election.

[AlaskanToo]

I don't care what all these crazies say about paying taxes as being unpatriotic. I think it is shameful to not feel a moral and ethical obligation to support this great nation. I admit public service is another great way to support your country but one of the easiest ways to offer your support is to simply pay your taxes. Can't we do this without trying to weasle our way out of it? These right wingers think it is so great to have our military at the level it is at well where does that money come from? Where does the money come from to pay for our public servants ie lawmakers, law enforcement (CIA, FBI, Secret Service, local police) and all the other governmental agencies set in place to help keep this country from running amok because while they may serve selflessly they are not volunteers. How about the infrastructure? Schools? Veterans benefits? Health care for government employees? I could go on but I think you get the picture. Whether you are a citizen or a corporation if you don't pay for taxes owed, you indeed are unpatriotic in my book. SO PLEASE JUST SHUT UP AND PAY YOUR TAXES PEOPLE!

[BBDisk]

AlaskanToo: Your income taxes are just going to pay the interest on the loan that the Federal Reserve makes to the USA when they print our money. It goes for nothing.

Please get educated about the issue ... you're obviously passionate and caring, but you should really get the facts. This interview will help you understand what is really going on with income taxes:

http://tinyurl.com/PATRIOT-TAX

[iheartbeer420]

Just another reason why McPalin is making me regret not volunteering all my time toward Ron Paul:
http://tinyurl.com/retdfasd

[OutsiderSA]

Tro// alert

obamasacred

[Belleweathered]

McCain doesn't report gambling wins & losses on his taxes and Palin doesn't report 25K in income on hers. Two real tax evading mavericks alright.

[BBDisk]

Income taxes are evil.

I'd vote in a heartbeat for any candidate from any party who would push through the FairTax.

American workers have enough difficulty making ends meet, we shouldn't allow the government to impose unapportioned taxes on our wages.

They tax just about everything else in the country, they can do their business without income tax.

They can start by spending LESS.

[reliant1]

Yup, I say no more money to the FDA or the FAA or Homeland Security.

Just those 3 will save us the bucks and lower the population levels at the same time.