No.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: He probably pays only what he's legally obligated to pay

Truth: If he doesn't, then his tax returns would be of great interest to the media and the voters. Unfortunately, you need the tax returns in order to find that out.

Additionally, there are other reasons to be interested in his tax returns:

  1. Loopholes for the very rich that he could be taking advantage of

  2. His actual net worth, and whether or not he can be trusted to say what he means.

  3. Income from questionable sources, possible substantiation of links to the Mafia

  4. He may not be New Yorker at all. He may be spending so much time in Florida so he doesn't have to pay New York taxes.

  5. Possible substantiation of rumors that his charities violate fraud laws

Myth: It's illegal for Trump to release his returns because he's being audited.

Truth: Nothing prevents Trump from releasing his tax returns.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said Friday it would be "rare" for an individual taxpayer to be audited as frequently as Trump says he has been.

Myth: Most presidential candidates don't release their tax returns.

Truth: Most candidates release their tax returns. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both released over a decade of their tax returns. Jeb Bush released his returns from 1981 to 2014. You have to go back to Gerald Ford to find someone who didn't release their tax returns.

But even then, Ford didn't promise to release his returns. On the other hand, Donald Trump said:

"If I decide to run for office, I'll produce my tax returns, absolutely."

Myth: People don't care**

Truth: 2/3rds of Americans- and 2/3rds of Republicans- think candidates should disclose their tax returns. America overwhelmingly believes that a candidate asking for their trust needs to be willing to prove they're trustworthy.

Donald Trump Reading Room

Sources

  1. "There's nothing to learn from them" - FactCheck, (non-partisan)

  2. If Trump Won't Release Tax Returns, His Delegates Should Abstain on First Ballot - National Review, (right-leaning)

  3. "It's none of your business" - Politics USA, (left-leaning)

  4. Editorial: Force Trump to release tax returns - Boulder Daily Camera, (local)

  5. Donald Trump releases personal financial disclosure, but no tax returns - MSNBC, (nominally non-partisan, but observed left editorial)

  6. Here's why delaying his taxes could be disastrous for Trump - Fortune, (nominally non-partisan, but observed right editorial)

  7. Last time Trump's returns went public, he paid $0 - AOL.com, (non-partisan)

  8. What could be in the taxes that Trump has vowed not to release - MarketWatch, (non-partisan, right-leaning editorial)