Geithner Was Repeatedly Told By IMF That He Owed Taxes

Timothy Geithner, whose nomination as Treasury secretary has been delayed by his past failure to pay taxes, was repeatedly advised in writing by the International Monetary Fund that he owed Social Security and Medicare taxes on the income he earned at the organization between 2001 and 2004.

Questions over his initial failure to pay more than $34,000 in taxes are clouding his prospects for confirmation. The Senate Finance Committee postponed Mr. Geithner's confirmation hearing for the second time this week on Wednesday. It's now scheduled for next Wednesday, which means President-elect Barack Obama will take office without a Treasury secretary amid the biggest financial crisis in decades.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[mathilde303]

I am self-employed and while good at the computer, I do not find that packaged tax programs file my needs. Clearly, someone bright and learned to be hired by the World Bank knows the rules. After being audited, he corrected only for the years he was audited. Maybe, he is suffering from early dementia to be kind. however, I belief that his actions lack INTEGRITY AND LACK OF AWARENESS OF THE ARROGANCE OF THIS ACTIONS.
Unfortunately several of the potential cabinet appointees are at the least rather thoughtless about their public comments. But I wager that a Congress with some many integrity problems on both sides of the table is reluctant to pursue Rangel and the actions of the banks. Was the head of the FDIC in New York so naive and ignorant of the situation on Wall Street. I doubt it.

[hey0there]

ok obama, its time to dump him.
You've been very gracious in allowing him time to bow out quietly on his own, but he ain't gonna do it, obviously. put the boot to the butt.

[HmblDog]

you may recall that taxpayer don't owe the tax until the highest court in the land makes a rule for their individual circumstance forcing them to pay. it's the american way (unless you earn wages and have it automatically deducted from your paycheck).
anyone surprised by the attitude of the wealthy regarding paying taxes to support the common good has been living under a rock for the last 30 years.

[MizLiz]

How arrogant can he get? He knew he owed the taxes, bet on it. All his other co-workers were in the same boat and probably discussed it at length

[holeybuybull]

Further proof that the only "change" we'll see will be largely cosmetic.

[JoeBlough]

If he can't read his paycheck stub, how can he run the Treasury? He's going to turn out to be the Gonzo of the Treasury department.

[kareemachan]

I honestly thought for a moment when I first read the headline that Geithner was told by the Impossible Missions Force that he owed taxes...

[ron ray]

Barack, you have to do better. dump this guy.

[jeffp26]

Wow, imagine that. A member of the banking community behaving like Leona Helmsley.

[jstowe100]

Here's a fun game. Match the inane quote below to the inane senator who made it:

1. "I'm not one that holds mistakes against people."
2. "These errors were not intentional; they were honest mistakes."
3. "It's very, very easy to make honest mistakes."
4. "While I do not know Mr. Geithner well, I do understand honest mistakes."


(A) Orrin Hatch, R Utah
(B) Max Baucus, D Mont.
(C) John Ensign, R Nev.
(D) Harry Reid, D Nev.

[freshnotbitter]

Geithner's tax shenanigans would not disqualify him from any cabinet job with the sole exception of Secretary of the Treasury.

Unfortunately, that is the job he is nominated for.

[OB-GYN]

PE Obama,

We voted you in for fundamental change, not the same old corruption at the helm.

Regrettably, no leader of the Treasury can have a blot on his records of not paying his taxes in spite of warning letters.

You can't have it both ways, Sir.

[NWBrunette]

The little IRS tax form you sign at the bottom has a little statement next to it saying that the signature means that you've reviewed the documents and are responsible for their accuracy. Simple and reasonable, and insuring that whoever sends it in is actually responsible for it. Like why do I even have to say this? If someone owes 34 Gs in taxes for a number of years - whether he was told about it a number of times explicitly or not - is not competent enough and not responsible enough to have any leadership role in our government. Period. Why do so many people - including Obama - not get this? This makes Obama look incredibly out of touch, unaware, and frankly silly.

[kae]

How Citigroup Unraveled Under Geithner's Watch

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/119871/how_citigroup_unraveled_under_geithner%27s_watch/?page=1

[Shammie2000]

Shame, Shame, Shame, Question for you AMERICA ? can you still produce honest, law abiding
tax paying public servants. This is a yes or no question also.