Ivana Trump's Burial Site Could Be a Tax Break for Donald Trump, Tax Documents Show
The burial site of Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's ex-wife, may have tax break implications for the former president's businesses.
Ivana was buried near the first hole of the golf course at Trump National Golf Club, according to a Yahoo News report.
Tax documents from the Trump Family Trust showed that the trust had asked to designate a property in Hackettstown, New Jersey as a non-profit cemetery company. However, the course itself is 20 miles away in Bedminster. Ivana was the first person known to have been buried at the golf course that is owned by Trump.
New Jersey state tax code noted that any land that is dedicated to cemetery purposes is exempted from all taxes, rates, and assessments. In addition, cemetery companies are also specifically excluded from paying any real estate taxes, rates, assessments, or personal property taxes on their lands. It also includes exclusion from business taxes, sales taxes, income taxes, and inheritance taxes.
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Ivana Trump's Burial Site and Tax Breaks
Brooke Harrington, a professor of sociology at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, noted that she was skeptical of rumors Trump buried Ivana on the New Jersey golf course for tax breaks.
The Guardian reported that Harrington looked at the state's tax code, and it was a "trifecta of tax avoidance," adding that property, income, and sales tax were all eliminated. She further accused the former president of burying his former wife in "little more than a pauper's grave."
Investigative journalist Victoria Brownworth tweeted that she thought it was a joke when she first saw it.
Lindy Li also echoed Brownworth's sentiments in a tweet, saying that the "Ivana story got even worse."
Trump earlier planned to build himself a mausoleum on the property, which had caused objections, according to an NPR report in 2012. It was then replaced with a plan for a "10-plot private family cemetery," which also turned into a 284-plot cemetery.
Robert Holtaway, a Bedminster town official, said that the cemetery plans never made sense to him, adding that they do not "question motives."
Ivana Trump Resting Place
Ivana is currently buried in bare ground marked with a granite plaque with her name, birthday, and death date. Huff Post reported that the ground had been consecrated so that she could have a traditional Catholic burial.
She died on July 14 at the age of 73. She left behind her three children, Eric, Ivanka, and Don. Jr, whom all she shared with Trump.
Ivana fell down the stairs, which caused her death, and was then ruled accidental by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
The former model and businesswoman was buried not too far from the main clubhouse situated at the backside of the first tee. It was a place golfers would not typically see. It was reported that the property has a private grassy area.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
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