Congressman Tom Tiffany Boasts of His Business Success, But Went Years Without Paying Taxes

Congressman Tom Tiffany Boasts of His Business Success, But Went Years Without Paying Taxes

Political Analyst: "Tiffany wants us to trust his economic judgment to run Wisconsin after he couldn't earn a taxable profit for his businesses."

New reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reveals how Congressman Tom Tiffany's businesses went years without paying state income taxes.

Congressman Tiffany has made his business dealings a cornerstone of his campaign, even presenting himself as "the dam man" in campaign ads.

However, according to Department of Revenue Records, Congressman Tiffany did not owe or pay personal state income taxes "for the years 2006 through 2010, as well as 2019," calling into question how successful Tiffany's businesses actually were.

One analyst criticized Congressman Tiffany for misleading voters about his business success, arguing that Tiffany either "schemed to avoid paying his taxes or he was lying when he said he was a successful business owner."

"Wisconsin's next governor will have to get to work on Day One tackling the affordability crisis families are facing, and Congressman Tom Tiffany's failed business record is a massive red flag that he isn't up to the job," said DGA spokesperson Izzi Levy. "If Congressman Tiffany didn't even pay his own taxes, why would Wisconsinites ever trust him to manage their hard-earned tax dollars?"

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany touts business success, but for years owed no taxes

• U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is campaigning for Wisconsin governor as a successful small-business owner.

• But Tiffany and his business went years without paying state income taxes, Department of Revenue records show.

• Tiffany had zero net state liability - meaning he owed and paid no personal state income taxes - for the years 2006 through 2010, as well as 2019, the records show.
• Tiffany's Willow Inc., owed and paid no state income taxes for more than a decade through 2016 - then paid just $65 in 2017, $308 in 2018 and $240 in 2019, the records show.

• And his Wisconsin River Cruises Inc., owed and paid no state income taxes between 2007 and 2013, according to the records.
• Tiffany paid just $681 in personal state income taxes in 2005, then paid no income taxes between 2006 and 2010, according to state Department of Revenue records.

• In 2011, the year he took office in the state Assembly, he paid $2,212 in personal state income taxes, and between 2012 and 2018, he paid between $1,680 and $2,445.
• Tiffany paid no state income taxes again in 2019, then has paid between $4,613 and $8,432 in net taxes per year since 2020, when he was first elected to Congress. Members of Congress typically make $174,000 per year.
• Scot Ross, a Democratic analyst, criticized Tiffany for campaigning as a successful businessman.

• "The dam man didn't pay his damn taxes," he said, referring to Tiffany's TV ad slogan, "Time to send in the dam man."

• When Ross was executive director of the Madison-based One Wisconsin Now, the liberal group found Tiffany's Willow Inc. had no tax obligations dating back to 2001.

• "Either Tiffany schemed to avoid paying his taxes or he was lying when he said he was a successful business owner," Ross said.

• "Tiffany wants us to trust his economic judgment to run Wisconsin after he couldn't earn a taxable profit for his businesses," Ross said.

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