DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tax returns for Gov. Terry Branstad and his wife show they earned $185,249 in 2015 and made sizable charity donations.
Branstad’s 48-page tax return was made available to the media Friday at the Iowa Capitol, the Des Moines Register reports.
The documents show the governor made a little over $31,000 in donations to Iowa charities, which is well over the average of about $4,000 in donations for his income level.
The donations, which include money for nine Catholic charities, helped lower Branstad’s federal income tax rate to 10.18 percent, compared to the average rate of 13.89 percent.
Branstad was paid $127,734 for serving as governor. He paid $18,859 in federal taxes and will be refunded $11,784.
He paid $2,629 in state taxes and will get $7,349 back.
Most high-profile politicians release their returns public each year and presidential nominees from both parties have released their tax returns since 1972, reports the Iowa Democratic Party. However, Republican candidate Donald Trump has refused to release his tax returns, and says it’s no one’s business.
“Gov. Branstad has stated that he firmly stands behind Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee for President. Donald Trump should be no exception when it comes to financial disclosures. Americans deserve to know the truth about Donald Trump’s financial past and tax history,” said Dr. Andy McGuire, IDP Chair.
“I call on Gov. Branstad to urge Donald Trump to promote transparency and divulge his tax returns immediately.”
Branstad has not publicly responded to the prompt.
