Gillibrand is First Presidential Candidate to Release Tax Returns; Urges Other Presidential Candidates to Follow Suit
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released her 2018 tax returns to the public, making her the first presidential candidate to take this key step towards accountability and transparency. Gillibrand now has 12 years’ worth of tax returns available online, dating back to 2007, her first year in public office. Gillibrand urged every other presidential candidate to join her in disclosing their latest taxes.
“For public servants, releasing your tax returns shows the American people that you work only for them, not the powerful. I’m proud to be the first presidential candidate to release my latest returns, and take that critical step towards transparency,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Gillibrand continued, “Since my first day in the House, I have prioritized transparency and accountability. Not only was I the first member of Congress to post my schedule, earmark requests and personal financial disclosures online, but I wrote the law that makes it illegal for members of Congress to profit off of their public service.
“Transparency is an essential tool to combat the corrupting influence of money in politics. The American people should know that their president is beholden to no one but them, and I’m urging all presidential candidates to join me and disclose at least ten years of their taxes, which will strengthen our ability to beat President Trump.”
Since her first day in the House, Senator Gillibrand has led the way on transparency and accountability for elected officials. She was the first Member of Congress to post a “Sunlight Report” that included her official schedule, Personal Financial Disclosures and earmark requests online. The New York Times called these efforts “a quiet touch of revolution” in Washington at the time.
Gillibrand also wrote and secured the passage of the STOCK Act in 2012, which finally made it illegal for members of Congress, their families and their staff to profit from insider information gained through public service. At the time, The Washington Post called it “the most substantial debate on Congressional ethics in nearly five years.”
Gillibrand is the first of the current 2020 candidates to post more than ten years-worth of taxes online, including her 2018 returns. Since 2012, she’s posted her tax returns annually.
Twelve years of Gillibrand’s taxes, including her 2018 returns, are available here: https://kirstengillibrand.com/news/kirstens-tax-returns/
Toplines of Gillibrand 2018 Taxes Below:
2018 Tax Return Toplines
- Adjusted Gross Income: $214,083
- Federal Taxes: $29,170
- Effective Tax Rate: 13.6%
- State Taxes: $12,523
- Business Income: $50,000
- Capital Gains: -$3,000
- Charitable Contributions: $3,750