Obama Tax Returns For 2008: See The Complete Filings

When Barack Obama released his 2000-2006 tax filings during the height of the presidential campaign, he was criticized for slightly-less-than-biblically-required charitable giving.

In those years, Obama (serving as Illinois state senator, then U.S. Senator) never offered more than six percent of his income to charity. Twice he gave less than one percent of his earnings.

Fast forward a few years, and the Obamas' returns tell a different story -- both of a higher income bracket and a far higher rate of charitable giving.

The White House released the filings for both the President and the First Lady on Wednesday. Combined, the family brought in an adjusted gross income of $2,656,902, mostly from the sale of the President's books. The Obamas paid $855,323 in federal income tax. And they donated $172,050 - or about 6.5% of their adjusted gross income - to 37 different charities.

Here are the notable donations made

$25,000 to the Catholic Relief Services
$25,000 to the United Negro College Fund.
$5,000 to the American Red Cross
$5,000 to the Boys and Girls Club
$5,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
$1,000 to Columbia University
$5,000 to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
$5,000 to St. Leo's Residence for Veterans
$2,000 to the Haiti Foundation of Hope
$5,000 to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Noticeably absent from the charitable giving is the place where Obama sent $22,500 in 2006: his old church Trinity United.

See anything else on the Obama's tax filing? Let us know.

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Here's the full White House release:

President and First Lady Release 2008 Income Tax Returns

Today, the President released his 2008 federal income tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported an adjusted gross income of $2,656,902. The vast majority of the family’s 2008 income is the proceeds from the sale of the President’s books. The Obamas paid $855,323 in federal income tax.

The President and First Lady also reported donating $172,050 – or about 6.5% of their adjusted gross income – to 37 different charities. The largest reported gifts to charity were $25,000 contributions to CARE and the United Negro College Fund.

The President and First Lady also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $77,883 in state income taxes.

Copies of the returns are available below:

President's Federal 1040 form:

president_federal_709 - Free Legal Forms

President's Federal 709 form:

president_federal_709 - Free Legal Forms

President's Illinois State income tax return:

president_state - Free Legal Forms

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Comments

[Haitiana4Obama]

Ahhh some of you are complaining about how much the President gave to charity. May I please point out that the man invested his personal wealth into this campaign these past two years? The cost of an election alone is staggering without contributing to credible causes such as the U.N.C.F, I'm surprised the Obamas gave as much as they did.

[k s holmes]

So what this story indicates is that the more disposable income a person has, the more money they willingly give to charatible organizations. And ... the less they make the less they give. How about that? Even Obama's own tax return contradicts his stated economic philosophy and his prescribed economic policies.

[eden4barack08]

Pretzel logic. Don't choke on it...or rather, go ahead.

[All57States]

Michelle got $63k for a no show job. Politics Chicago Style

[kmorri107]

He had no choice but to pay his taxes. You make it sound like he was generous in paying taxes...it is the law. And this year he will make $400,000 with few expenses....and the book slaes will continue. You don't have to worry about him....he is officially rich and there is nothing wrong with that.

[GalenL]

I'm sorry, did you actually read the article? I mean it sounds like you almost did.

[GalenL]

Meh, I just read the rest of your posts on this thread - ignore me.

[TalentedOne]

Let's hope the President pays those taxes. With Tax Cheat Geithner in control anything could happen.

[Peaceisnecessary]

President and First Lady Obama, paid 1/3 of their income in taxes and then gave $172,000 to charity. $2 million is nothing to rich folks and they did not rob anyone to obtain it. To the rich, the Obamas are not really rich. I am so proud of both of them and buy his books anytime I can and give them out as presents. The President and the First Lady are successful and I am so proud of them. So far, I think he is a great President! What charities has Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity donate to? I would like to see that list.

[Ohiolawyer]

Its funny how when I commented yesterday about paying 1/3 of my salary in taxes on an income of $360,000, there was widespread agreement from other posters that I was "rich" and should not squawk about paying even more taxes. Now that the Obamas have released their returns, there seems to be general agreement that $2.7 million isn't really rich. (In fariness, I don't believe that peaceisnecessary was one of the commentors yesterday.)

[Socialismisforsuckers]

hopefully he donates to RIF for your sake

[RightWingMarine]

Clearly the Obamas are not using Geithner as a tax advisor.

[swan1]

AS for Taxes, he sure walks the walk. He paid more in taxes than his salary will be for the next 2 years COMBINED.

[kmorri107]

Wrong. His salary is $400,000 with basically no expenses (food, shelter, utilities, cable, etc). As for taxes he has to walk the walk or he is a felon. Do you think he had an option to not pay taxes?

[Yamunation]

I want to see Cheney's tax returns.
If he pays taxes, that is.

[kmorri107]

Cheney's tax returns are a matter of public record and yes he does pay taxes. Why would you suggest he doesn't pay taxes?

[Yamunation]

Just a hunch that he's corrupt in more ways than one? THought maybe he's skimped here and there, like many politicians do.

[kmorri107]

Well I guess you mentioning Hannity, OReilly and Limbaugh, I thought you were talking about Republicans.

It is frightening to think that you think we should have a right to see the tax returns of private citizens. That is a slippery slopeandnot one ou want to go down.

Go visit Texas and you will see Bush doing all kinds of community service. My daughter is in school there and sees him frequently involved in all kinds of good things. The press doesn't want to cover it. Also he did it a lot of what you are talking about when President for the same photo opportunities that Obama is taking advantage of. Please remember that they are all politicians....not Ghandi.

Here is my big concern. The Obama budget is based on a 4% growth rate of the economy and experts are saying it is going to more likely be in the 2% range for the nest 5-7 years. How are we going to fund all of those programs. The deficit will be out of control. That's what we should all be focusing on.

[eden4barack08]

Ladies and gentlemen,

here's one of the the rare specimens that comprise the 26% of Americans!

[Yamunation]

for pete's sake, keep your panties on.

Did you not read this story, and click the link, and peruse through Obama's tax return document yourself, or did you piously hold back?

[Socialismisforsuckers]

Let it go. They are out of office. Time to find a new scapegoat besides the Bush/Cheney campaign.

[noneIn2008]

The politicians have it figured out. The exes on Wall Street need to learn to take book deals instead of bonuses. The next best deal is speakers fees. Nobody bats an eye at a $10 million book deal. Wall Street just needs to give out book deals instead of the million + bonuses.

[meanisnotnice]

Question? Did he use the money from his books to pay off his and his wife's student loans?

[publius1]

Yes.

[All57States]

He could have used the $63k she earned in her no show job to pay off those loans.

[Socialismisforsuckers]

no the Saudi prince who paid for his graduate degree did.

[kmorri107]

It is a tradition for the President and Vice-president to make public their tax returns. I wonder what you would have said if George Bush had decided to keep his returns private. I think what bothers the Obama supporters is that he fell short in the charitable giving category. It's not a big deal, it is just interesting.

[Lemmy]

Biden gave $1,800. Magnanimous.

[luvangelHussein330]

How is it that he fell short he gave what he want to home he wanted.... maybe it fell short in your eyes but i don't see you posting your tax filings for anyone to critique who you donated to. Mattr of fact i don't remeber the president ever giving an amont that one should donate. All he has been saying is to try and give what you can in time and or money....

[kmorri107]

I gave more than 6.5%. It is surprising he wants the rich to contribute but he didn't set a good example. I just expected him to at least match the percentage that Bush gave or a minimum of 10%.

[Sparhawk]

He made over 2 Million...isn't he included in the "Let's tax the Rich " group? Or is his income somehow different??

[sf girl]

He has said many times that he falls into the high earners category.

[Haitiana4Obama]

He only just recently joined that group after the success of his grammy award winning (audio version) books; Dreams from My Father, and Audacity of Hope. I own both of them and suggest you read them if you haven't already...truly helps you understand the man and the plan. President Obama much like most fair-minded upperclass Americans (surprisingly many stars as well) feel they should be taxed more then the less fortunate, and I tend to agree with them and admire the sacrifice on their part for the betterment of the whole.

[mendelcrosses]

n those years, Obama (serving as Illinois state senator, then U.S. Senator) never offered more than six percent of his income to charity. Twice he gave less than one percent of his earnings.
#######################

Why are people so narrow minded in America?

Havent you ever heard of the saying that "Money Dont Buy U Love"?

Charity isnt about MONEY. Otherwise Bush could claim the role of the good Samaritan,after all he managed to crumbled the worlds economy by ,according to official reports "Investing Billions in Iraq"

But he got a shoe thrown at him in Iraq,remember?

Charity is about the heart and mind and soul. What one do in total good will and not how much money they give at times,even when they arent happy giving it.

Like I always tell my sister who thinks I owe the church 10% of my earnings, I tell her, our nieces and nephews,cousins,I help are all Gods work that I am doing. I dont have to give to the Church so they decide what to do with my money. By the way,God doesnt need my money. Event at the church,I drop in to help with the organisation.

[ProudNeoCon]

Our tax form allows people to pay extra tax for deficit reduction. Obama believes that rich people do not pay enought. Now he is clearly in that category based on his income. I am suprised that he did not show an example and paid something extra. After all our tax rates are minimum taxes required and anyone can pay more. I guess his views end at the begining of his wallet and he wants to make sure that other pay more before he does it as well.

On another hand we should be thankfull that unlike some of his cabinet he actually did pay all required taxes...

[sf girl]

He paid almost a third of his income in taxes. If you read the article and saw how much of their income the Obamas paid in taxes and gave to charity and you are still complaining that he didn't contribute more to "deficit reduction" you are clearly blinded by your own dislike of the president and are looking for anything to complain about. By the way, how much did you contribute to reducing the deficit? Maybe you should be the example for all of us.

[ProudNeoCon]

More than Obama did.... I paid more in taxes, more to charities and more to reduction of deficit...

[luvangelHussein330]

You are correct that a citizen has the choice to pay more on thier taxes. But that would be stupid. The smart thing to do is to come out even so that you owe no money to government and the government doesn't owe you anything...unless you have children or other tax credits. Giving the government more money on your taxes again is an option but what your essentialy doing is loaning the government money intrest free to get back at the end of the year and in some cases dependeing on what happens to you financialy you may not get back everything you paid extra on so again not a smart choice to make. I seriously don't understand you righties....mad he and his wife paid the required taxes they owed...mad that he didn't pay more...mad that he didn't donate more all while Busco set up loop wholes for the extremely rich to use the Caymon islands as thier tax havens.