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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsElectionsStarted 10yrs agoActive 9hrs ago

Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?

A tax return is a document which states how much income an individual or entity reported to the government. In the U.S. there is no legal requirement of any kind that presidential candidates release tax returns from any year. Tax returns can be released by an individual taxpayer, but cannot released by the IRS to the public. However, one Senator has proposed legislation requiring presidential candidates to release tax returns. In 2016 a U.S. Senator proposed the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. The bill would require a presidential candidate to release the most recent three years of tax returns to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) within 15 days of becoming the nominee at the party convention. If the candidate refuses to comply, the Treasury Secretary would provide the tax returns directly to the FEC for public release.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 2.5m America voters.

67%
Yes
33%
No
67%
Yes
32%
No
0%
Yes, and require a public audit each year they are in office
1%
No, I would respect them more if they did but they shouldn’t be required to
0%
Yes, and also required to release their medical records
0%
No, tax returns have nothing to do with their ability to perform their duties
0%
No, their income is none of our business

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 2.5m America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 2.5m America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @8JSC4QS from Kansas  answered…6yrs6Y

It is their own choice to do so

 @94N2NJX from Georgia  answered…4yrs4Y

No, abolish income taxes

 @9WRDK3J from Colorado  answered…2yrs2Y

No, but they should still be held liable the same as any standard citizen if found guilty of any crime such as tax evasion or tax fraud.

 @5D4428Gfrom California  answered…6yrs6Y

Should have to submit taxes, birth certificate, and have a mental exam also

 @9D6JRC6 from Minnesota  answered…3yrs3Y

No, but require a public audit every year they are in office.

 @5DTVT6Xfrom Alabama  answered…6yrs6Y

I know money plays a crucial role in elections but if the citizens in this country would wake up, then the candidates running would be held accountable for their own "integrity". It is embarrassing what goes on. Both sides think they have all the answers. Personally most politician are megalomaniacs and it is more of a dirty game than any real ability to do anything. The world is a "nutter" we are just along for the ride. People are so shallow about it all. Oh this one is best if you don't agree I am going to chew you up and spit you out. Well...I am going to be like…  Read more

 @5D3BY6Rfrom Ohio  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes. Once you run for office your life is an open book

 @9KVQHTP  from Florida  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, and also required to release their medical record and require a public audit each year they are in office

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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About This Data

Based on 2.5m responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

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iSideWith. (2026). “Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/2552639182

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