The tax agency concluded in its long-running investigation that Trump effectively claimed the same massive write-off twice on his failed Chicago tower.
The Big Story
Sat. May 11, 2024

I’m Paul Kiel. I’ve been covering the U.S. tax system since 2018, and my latest story, reported with Russ Buettner of The New York Times, “IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million” is out today. Do you remember how, as a candidate back in 2016, Donald Trump kept saying he couldn’t release his tax returns because he was under audit? Even eight years later, very little has come out about that long-running audit. So we went looking. Using publicly available sources like an IRS legal memo and info from different investigations of the former president, as well as our analysis of Trump’s leaked tax return information, we were able to piece together the first detailed look at what Trump did and why the IRS has questioned it.
IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million
The tax agency concluded in its long-running investigation that Trump effectively claimed the same massive write-off twice on his failed Chicago tower.
by Paul Kiel, ProPublica, and Russ Buettner, The New York Times
VIEW STORY
The Secret IRS Files
The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax
ProPublica has obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing.
by Jesse Eisinger, Jeff Ernsthausen and Paul Kiel
Private Planes and Luxury Yachts Aren’t Just Toys for the Ultrawealthy. They’re Also Huge Tax Breaks.
What’s the only thing better than having your own Gulfstream jet? Why, getting to claim millions in tax deductions for it. All you have to do is make a case you’re using it for business, which turns out to be surprisingly easy.
by Paul Kiel
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes on an Epic Scale
After a year of reporting on the tax machinations of the ultrawealthy, ProPublica spotlights the top tax-avoidance techniques that provide massive benefits to billionaires.
by Paul Kiel
Celebrating ProPublica
ProPublica wins Pulitzer

We’re honored that our Supreme Court reporting was recognized this week with a Pulitzer Prize for public service, and we made this short video to celebrate. Our reporting about the botched police response to the Uvalde, Texas, shooting also had the distinction of being a finalist for explanatory reporting. Thank you, as always, for supporting our journalism. We cannot do this without you.
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by Sharon Lerner
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