Romney Says He’s Never Paid Below 13% in Taxes, But Does That Number Reflect His Original Filings or Amended Returns?

Mitt Romney has previously refused to give an exact estimate as to how much he’s paid in federal taxes, at least until now. 

Via Politico:

Mitt Romney said Thursday that he has paid at least 13 percent of his income in taxes every year.

“I never paid less than 13 percent,” Romney said at a press conference in Greer, S.C. “I think the most recent year is 13.6 percent.”

Romney said that after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused him of not having paid taxes, he went back and checked the rate he paid. Romney said that between taxes and charitable contributions, he gave up over 20 percent of his income annually.

 “I just have to say given the challenges that America faces, 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear…. the fascination with taxes I pay, I find to be very small minded compared with the challenges we face,” Romney said.

But what does this really mean, considering that Romney previously lied about his taxes, while simultaneously trying to amend his returns, while running for governor of Massachusetts?

Back then, Romney said he was a resident of the Massachusetts, had filed as a resident on his tax returns, and paid Massachusetts taxes. He handn’t. He lied. It was also discovered that Romney had been trying to retroactively refile his taxes, so his Massachusetts taxes would be filed as if he was a resident of the state.

So since Romney has a history of lying about his returns, and trying to amend them to reflect an image that aligns with  his political archetype and ambitions, it would seem that the question reporters should be asking is whether Romney has amended his tax returns or not? Reporters should be asking whether the tax rate of at least 13% was reflected on the original filings? Or whether that number is the result subsequent refilings?

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