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Donald Rumsfeld isn't sure his taxes are accurate

A for effort?
Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Washington, DC.
Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Washington, DC.

A for effort?

Donald Rumsfeld wants the Internal Revenue Service to know that he really did give it his best shot, but he’s still not sure that his taxes are indeed accurate.

The former Defense Secretary published a letter to the IRS -- he writes that he sends the company one annually -- as a political foreword to his tax forms.

“It is important for you to know that I have absolutely no idea whether our tax returns and our tax payments are accurate,” Rumsfeld wrote in a letter he attached to his taxes and tweeted out on Tuesday evening. “I say this despite the fact that I am a college graduate and I try hard to make sure our tax returns are accurate.”

In the letter, Rumsfeld also advocates for tax reform—a hot-button political issue few have made much headway on.

“I do hope that at some point in my lifetime, and I am now in my '80s, so there are not many years left, the U.S. government will simplify the U.S. tax code so those citizens who sincerely want to pay what they should, are able to do it right, and know that they have done it right," Rumsfeld writes.