Please Help Me Understand this...why not?

Maybe Romney has something to hide? If not he should publicize the tax returns! We want to know! If the Democrates come after him so what? The democrates have gone after him for just about everything else! Romney should be able to handle it like everything else!

Most Americans as a rule don't understand the tax code. The majority file a simple version of a tax form. As you have more income from various places, filing taxes becomes more complicated. Romney's tax returns are complicated. It is very easy for the opposition to subvert the information on those tax returns because they are complex. Plus, there is no real reason for him to. Why give the opposition unnecessary information when you don't have to? If it were a document requirement for being President of the United States, that's a whole different matter. But nowhere in the US Constitution does it state one has to release every tax return ever filed. In fact, President Obama would need to present at least four more years of tax returns to equal the amount that is being asked from Romney.

Now you understand the frustration some had because Obama refused to issue a copy of his birth certificate, his college transcripts, and his college entrance loan application. What difference does it make whether or not Romney publishes his tax returns? If he'd done anything illegal, surely the IRS would have found him out before now. Isn't this just the Democrat's attempt at making Romney look sinister? They don't have a successful platform to run on, so they'll try to run down the other candidate by manufacturing a problem that doesn't exist.

I would say, because he doesn't have to.

Short answer: he's not required to. Long answer: making his full income and its sources known could hand him in hot water with several interested parties: the American public, his church, and possibly a number of regulatory and/or law enforcement agencies. The American public isn't such a big one, really. Explaining how a dressage horse is both a medical expense and a business expense in the same year would be sticky, but people love the lifestyles of the rich and famous. It gives them something to dream about. The legal and church issues are rather stickier. On the legal side, the IRS has a long-standing practice of looking the other way on the source of taxable moneys so long as the amounts add up and the taxes are paid. This includes money held out of country and gained in illegal operations. Other agencies might go sniffing around if Mr. Romney suddenly showed income from previously unknown sources or tax statuses fluctuating in ways that don't match public records, as in the situation regarding his Bain retirement dates and the Salt Lake City Olympics. As for the church, as a Latter Day Saint Romney is required to donate a full 10% of his income to the church. If he's not been up front with them, he could lose his respected status as an elder and the protection from external inquiry that provides as well. It may simply be that the short answer is the truth; certainly it's sufficient or should be. On the other hand, in a situation where transparency would definitely help him in a tight race, he's not been been forthcoming with information you'd hope would not hurt him, and so the speculation remains.

I think it is because he has been attacked so much. The offshore account is not an issue as they only know about the account cause he filed it in his tax returns. I never thought I would say this but I agree with Bill Clinton, leave Romney alone with Bain as he did a damn fine job! Perhaps he is afraid of the charity issue as I am sure a large % of the money went to Mormon causes and well Mormons are no where near a majority. I hope they can turn and focus on real issues, the economy etc and not tax returns for crying out aloud.

Why should he let everyone in America know what he pays in taxes? And what would be the reason for doing so? So that Obama can use something against him? The only one that should know what Romney pays would be the IRS and possibly the only time they would ask is if there is somethng wrong. Of course, that would make it easy for the Democrats to find something wrong. Of course, if he did release all his tax records, then the Democrats would attack him, particularly if like many business people he did business overseas or if he had to lay off some people. They would use it to their advantage and that is the reason why he should not require no more then the law requires and certainly not to give Obama an advantage.

valentinesdiner While the most simple action on the surface seems to be just release them, it is a non win situation. Critics will look for things to question even though all Romneys returns are in order. The pharse 'give an inch they will take a mile' applys here..it's politics.