Rumsfeld Calls for Tax Reform

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld yesterday made public a letter he said he sends every year to the IRS, along with his tax return.

The letter states: “I have sent in our federal income tax and our gift tax returns for 2013. As in prior years, it is important for you to know that I have absolutely no idea whether our tax returns and our tax payments are accurate. I say that despite the fact that I am a college graduate [Princeton, 1954] and I try hard to make sure our tax returns are accurate.”

“As in past years,” Rumsfeld went on to say, “I have spent more money than I wanted to spend to hire an accounting firm to prepare our tax returns and I believe they are well qualified. “

“This letter is to alert you folks that I know that I do not know whether or not my tax returns are accurate, which is a sad commentary on governance in our nation’s capital.”

“I do hope that at some point in my lifetime, and I am now in my 80s, so there are not many years left, the U.S. government will simplify the U.S. tax code so that those citizens who sincerely want to pay what they should, are able to do it right, and know that they have done it right.”

Rumsfeld concluded by saying that his wife of 59 years, likewise a college graduate, also has no idea whether the tax payments on their joint return are accurate.

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