Releasing tax returns

Christie breaks precedent by not releasing tax returns in October

By Matt Friedman and Ryan Hutchins

Gov. Chris Christie has disclosed his tax returns every year since he became governor and, according to his office, he will release them this year as well.

But Christie has already taken longer to disclose his returns than at any time since he took office seven years ago.

Christie in April asked for a six-month extension on filing his 2015 income taxes — something he’s done every year. And until this year, Christie’s office has publicly released his tax in October, after filing them.

October 2016 came and went with no Christie tax returns released.

“The Governor and Mrs. Christie will release their taxes when they are ready to do so,” Christie spokesman Brian Murray said in an email.

Murray did not respond to questions about why the governor is taking longer than usual to disclose them, reiterating that Christie will release them “when he’s ready.”

The governor's delay in disclosing his tax returns come as he heads up the transition team for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has refused to disclose his tax returns. Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, released 10 years of his returns in September.

In their 2014 filings, Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, reported nearly $1 million in income, mostly from Mary Pat earning more than $700,000 at the investment firm Angelo, Gordon & Co. Mary Pat Christie left that job in April 2015, months before Christie declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.

Christie's salary as governor is $175,000.