The President's Tax Returns

27 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 439 (2020)

U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2019-21

43 Pages Posted: 14 Jun 2019 Last revised: 31 Jul 2020

See all articles by Andy Grewal

Andy Grewal

University of Iowa - College of Law

Date Written: November 3, 2019

Abstract

This Article examines whether congressional committees enjoy the unrestricted authority to demand a President’s tax returns. It concludes that they do not. Though a federal statute seemingly compels the IRS to furnish, on request, anyone’s tax returns to some congressional committees, a statute cannot transcend the constitutional limits on Congress’s investigative authority. Congress enjoys a near-automatic right to review a President’s tax returns only through a proper impeachment inquiry.

After analyzing the general constitutional principles, the Article briefly examines the House Ways & Means Committee’s disputed request for President Trump’s tax return information. That controversy remains ongoing, and subsequent events may affect the legitimacy of any congressional request for that information. However, the Article expresses doubt that the Committee’s request satisfies the relevant constitutional standard.

Suggested Citation

Grewal, Amandeep S., The President's Tax Returns (November 3, 2019). 27 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 439 (2020), U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2019-21, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3381974 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3381974

Amandeep S. Grewal (Contact Author)

University of Iowa - College of Law ( email )

Melrose and Byington
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
872
Abstract Views
6,496
Rank
50,884
PlumX Metrics