Many members of Congress may have a Daschle problem, skip taxes on family travel

[babylonsister]

Lawmakers skip taxes on family travel
By Mike Soraghan
Posted: 02/09/09 07:51 PM


Many members of Congress may have a Tom Daschle problem.

A week after the former senator withdrew his nomination for Health and Human Services secretary because of reports he didn’t pay taxes on a car and driver, lawmakers are facing their own tax questions.

Some of the same lawmakers who criticized Daschle also neglected to pay taxes when they brought family members on trips paid for by outside groups, according to tax experts and a watchdog group.

Most Americans pay taxes when they bring a spouse or family members on a business trip on the company’s tab. But many members of Congress have been ignoring that section of the tax code since they wrote it in 1993.

It’s hypocritical for some members to criticize Daschle’s tax problems while ignoring their own, said Craig Holman of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group that filed a complaint with the IRS on this issue in 2006.

“It is identical,” Holman said. “It’s such an obvious issue, but the IRS looks the other way.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-skip-taxes-on-family-travel-2009-02-09.html

[napi21]

1. I bet, if every member of congress had to undergo a "real" IRS audit,

more than 80% would be found to owe SOMETHING!

The only taxpayers who file 100% accurate returns are those who have ONLY wages from their employer...no interest or dividend income, no side jobs. I firmly believe anyone who can finagle a bit & believes they won't be caught will do so, recognizing up front that if they are audited, they'll have to pay up. They're willing to take the chance.

[stillcool]

3. I didn't survive an audit..

I worked in the hotel/restaurant/catering business, and while I did not make a lot of money, what money I made came from different sources, and accounting for it was a guessing game. They told me I was a random audit, but from what I read it doesn't look like a lot of people have been audited. I think that should change, and everyone should go through a random IRS audit at least once in their life.

[napi21]

4. Because of the LARGE concentration placed on the tax circumstances of

nominees, I think EVERY nominee, and every candidate for federal office,whether they're a current incumbant or a new candidate, should have to endure an IRS audit. AI really wonder how many retirements, we would see????

[babylonsister]

7. I sort of agree, if only to bring the rethugs down a peg or two.

They'd like us to believe Dems are the only ones in this boat.

[Winterblues]

2. Makes me wonder about Sarah Palin

She took her family on all of her trips and charged the State to do so. :shrug:

[zbdent]

5. Didn't Mrs. Jeb Bush try to get away with not paying the duty on

clothing she bought overseas?

[gratuitous]

6. Let's name some names, shall we?

John Boehner. Ray LaHood. Lynn Westmoreland. Jim DeMint. Chuck Grassley.

The account says these are just a few examples.