Gingrich paid $994,000 in taxes in 2010

By JACK GILLUM and BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich paid nearly $1 million in federal income taxes in 2010 on more than $3.1 million in income, filings released Thursday showed amid renewed calls for rival Mitt Romney to release his tax records as well.

Gingrich's tax returns — released minutes after the start of the latest Republican presidential debate — showed he and his wife paid $994,708, or about 31.7 percent, of their adjusted income in taxes. Personal financial disclosure forms filed last summer show Gingrich is worth more than $6.5 million.

The former House speaker earned his $3.1 million mostly from $2.5 million paid by his companies, partnerships and investments. He and his wife also reported $10,000 each were paid in board of director fees, and Gingrich reported another $21,625 in speaking fees.

Gingrich is the latest presidential candidate to disclose his tax returns amid calls for Romney to do the same, following reports this week that Romney holds investments in the Cayman Islands. Romney's campaign has flatly denied any impropriety.

Gingrich took aim at Romney this week after the former Massachusetts governor — who is worth more than $250 million — said he paid closer to 15 percent in income taxes. Romney said during Thursday's GOP debate that he would release multiple years of tax returns in April and defended his tax rate.

"I obviously pay all full taxes. I'm honest in my dealings with people. People understand that," he said. "My taxes are carefully managed. And I pay a lot of taxes. I've been very successful."

Both men have become prominent candidates this GOP primary season, which is taking place during a critical time in the American economy when voters say jobs are among the most important issues in deciding the next president.

Gingrich's tax returns also show he paid $19,800 in alimony in 2010, although it was unclear which one of his two ex-wives was the recipient. Earlier Thursday, Marianne Gingrich said her ex-husband wanted an "open marriage," a charge that Gingrich vehemently denied at the start of the Republican debate.

Gingrich listed deductions to help ease his tax burden, such as $120,000 paid in taxes to state and local governments, and $81,133 in charitable giving. That giving includes $9,540 in contributions to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic church in Washington, and $3,100 to unspecified causes.

While priding himself during the campaign as being a Christian conservative, Gingrich gave about 2.6 percent of his income. That makes his giving considerably less than the roughly $259,000 on average that households earning at least $2 million a year gave in 2009 to charities, according to research from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Gingrich also released 2010 IRS filings for his foundation, showing its $152,609 in contributions that year came from his company, Gingrich Holdings. The Gingrich Foundation — Gingrich, his wife and two daughters are on its board — reported nearly $100,000 in cash and investments at the end of the year. None received compensation, the report showed.

His foundation spent $120,000 on contributions to Gingrich causes, including $20,000 to Washington's Immaculate Conception basilica; $20,000 each to the Washington National Opera and Atlanta Ballet; and $30,000 to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, his wife's alma mater.

Personal financial disclosure forms filled last summer show Gingrich is worth more than $6.5 million overall. He reported at least $500,000 in assets from Gingrich Productions, the media company owned by him and his wife, Callista, that produces books and films.

Gingrich turned over the company to his wife earlier this year as he grew his presidential campaign. But he has continued to promote the company's films, often hosting screenings on the sidelines during conservative conferences where aides sell DVDs of the programs and their companion books afterward.

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