The tax returns of disgraced ex-US President Donald Trump are set to be released to the public within days for the first time.
Trump raised eyebrows when he became the first presidential candidate in recent history to refuse to release the findings when he ran for the White House in 2016.
He has since fought to keep the documents sealed but the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee last month obtained them after an investigation.
A spokesman has now confirmed they will be released to the public on Friday, December 30, according to an anonymous congressional aide.
They are expected to include the reality tv star’s returns he filed during his years in office between 2015 and 2020.
It is understood the only redactions from the filings will be social security numbers and contact details.
Earlier today staff were seen wheeling several boxes full of documents into the hearing, possibly showing the sheer amount of information under review.
The revelation comes on the same day a report by the committee was released.
It reads: “Just like every other American, the President of the United States is obligated to pay taxes owed.
“This is a core responsibility of our common citizenship: without tax revenue, our government would cease to exist.
“Unlike many nations, we operate a largely voluntary tax compliance system, supported by oversight and auditing. That means our revenue system— and hence our democracy—hinge on public faith that our tax laws are administered fairly and without favour.
“The public must have confidence our tax laws apply evenly and justly to all, regardless of power or position.
“The effort to provide oversight of the mandatory audit program is and always has been about ensuring that our tax laws are administered fairly and without preference.
“The Committee’s investigation revealed only one mandatory audit was started under the prior Administration and the program was otherwise dormant, at best.
“For this reason, it is recommended there should be a statutory requirement for the mandatory examination of the President with disclosure of certain audit information and related returns in a timely manner.”
Last month the US Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump's returns to be handed over to Congress after a three-year legal fight.
During the Trump administration the then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin withheld the tax returns from Congress arguing they were being sought by Democrats for partisan reasons.
US Presidents and party nominees have agreed to voluntarily make summaries of their taxes available to the public since Richard Nixon’s time in office.
It came after media reports suggested the then president had taken large deductions in his individual returns.
