Refuses to release tax returns citing 'audit', breaking decades of precedent

In mid-May 2016, Trump definitively stated he would not release his tax returns before the election, citing an ongoing IRS audit as the reason. He claimed, "There's nothing to learn from them," and insisted he would release them "when the audit is complete." This refusal broke with 40 years of tradition for presidential candidates and set a precedent for opacity regarding his finances and potential conflicts of interest. Later investigations revealed he had paid little to no income tax in many years, suggesting the 'audit' excuse was a cover for avoiding scrutiny.

"There's nothing to learn from them." — Interview with the Associated Press regarding his tax returns