DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
May 17, 2019
‘The Honorable Richard E. Neal
Chairman
‘Committee on Ways and Means
USS. House of Representatives
‘Washington, DC 20815
Dear Chairman Neal:
| write in response to your leter of May 10,2019, in which you eterate you request forthe
confidential tax retums (and other retum informatio) of President Trump and related business
entities, nd in Which you include a subpoena forthe documents you have requested.
‘As I explained in my May 6 letter to the Commitee, the Department ofthe Treasury (the
Department) has consulted with the Department of Justice concerning the lawfulness ofthe
‘Committee's unprecedented request. In reliance on the advice ofthe Department of Justice, we
hhave determined thatthe Committee's request lacks a legitimate legislative purpose, and
‘pursuant to section 6103, the Department is therefore not authorized to disclose the requested
‘etums and return information. For the same reasons, we are unable to provide the requested
information in response tothe Committee's subpoena, As I explained in my May 6 letter, the
Department of Justice has informed us that it intends to memorialize its advice in a published
legal opinion as soon as practicable.
In my April23 letter tothe Commite, 1 offered to work with the Commitee to secommodate its
stated interest in understanding bow the IRS edits and enforces the Federal tax laws against @
President by proving the Commitice with addtional infomation on the mandatory adit
process. [renewed that offer in my May 6 leter. While the Conamittee's latest leer appears to
decline these offers because they are “ota substitute” forthe Presidents tax returns, he
Departments offer would provide information tat directly bears upon wht the Commitee has
stated tobe it leisative interest inthis subjet. Consistent with the Exeeutive Branch’s
constitutional commitment to accommodation, the Department remains committed to providing
such an accommodation.
Sincerely,
Shunt Murch >
‘Steven T. Mauchin