MAY 20, 2014:
More than a year before he announced his presidential campaign, Trump told an Irish television station that he would "absolutely" release his tax returns if he entered the race.
"If I decide to run for office, I'll produce my tax returns, absolutely," he said. "And I would love to do that."
FEBRUARY 25, 2015:
Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he would "certainly show tax returns if it was necessary."
OCTOBER 4, 2015:
Trump said in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he was considering releasing his tax returns.
"I'm thinking about maybe when we find out the true story on Hillary's emails," he said of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
JANUARY 24, 2016:
Trump told NBC's Chuck Todd that he had "very big returns."
Asked if he would release them publicly, Trump said, "we're working on that now."
"I have very big returns, as you know, and I have everything all approved and very beautiful and we'll be working that over in the next period of time, Chuck," Trump said. "Absolutely."
FEBRUARY 11, 2016:
Trump appeared again on Hewitt's radio program and said of his returns, "we'll get them out at some point, probably."
FEBRUARY 24, 2016:
Trump told CNN's Anderson Cooper that he has a "very complex system of taxes."
"We'll make a determination over the next couple of months," he said. "It's very complicated."
FEBRUARY 25, 2016:
Trump tweeted that he's already filed public financial disclosure forms that are "great." He said that tax returns "have 0 to do w/ someone's net worth."
The disclosure forms do give wide estimates of asset value. But tax returns would reveal much more. Even the top two pages of his 1040 and Schedule A, for example, would say how much taxable income he made, how much he paid in taxes, his charitable contributions and whether he paid tax to any foreign governments.
Just for your info, tax returns have 0 to do w/ someone's net worth. I have already filed my financial statements w/ FEC. They are great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2016
During a CNN-Telemundo debate later that day, Trump said he wanted to release his tax returns, but could not while he's under audit.
"I've had it for years. I get audited. And obviously if I'm being audited, I'm not going to release a return," he said. "As soon as the audit is done, I love it."
FEBRUARY 27, 2016:
Trump revisits the audit argument on Twitter.
"Tax experts throughout the media agree that no sane person woul