@Freedom (Freedom) posted a new topic, subject "Political Tax Question". It read:

   It seems that Hillary Rodham's brother was paid a contingencey fee for getting some drug dealer pardoned. After this was revealed in the press, they announced that nobody did anything wrong, but for appearances sake, they were giving the money back.  
    So my question is:
    
    If they really did nothing wrong, then isn't that $200,000 income no matter what they do with it? And if they do decide to give it back, isn't that transaction taxable as a gift?

Then @Freedom (Freedom) said

    5 days.
    
    I beat the story by 5 days.
    
    HUGH MAY BE TAXED 230G ON RETURNED $$
    
    > Gavin said that, based on federal tax tables, Florida resident Rodham will owe $158,400 in income taxes on what he received from a businessman pardoned by Clinton, and a cocaine trafficker who had his sentence commuted.
    > 
    > And then, because Rodham - under no legal obligation - gave the money back to the two in exchange for nothing, he will owe another $76,050 in federal gift taxes, Gavin argues, for a total of $234,450 in taxes.
    
    hehehehehe…  
    Sorry, but I never call one in advance.

So @Doctor_Jackson (Doctor Jackson) replied

    Nice work, Freedom. You're question made me stop and think, I'm glad you found the (possible) answer.

Then @IzzyR (IzzyR) said

    On a similar note, there was some publicity a couple of years back about the guy who gave Mark McGwire his 63rd home run ball back. Ultimately the IRS declared that they would not ask the guy for taxes on it.
    
    BTW, if I was Rodham, I don't know how fast I would give $400,000 back just because my sister was iedwards@example.net.


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