Billionaire investor Mark Cuban said on Monday that he is offered tax advantage opportunities but does not take them while criticizing Donald Trump over a report that he may have not paid federal income taxes for 18 years.
Cuban, who is supporting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, also said that paying taxes is one of the most patriotic things rich Americans can do.
"I say it all the time, after military service, the most patriotic thing you can do as a wealthy person is pay your taxes, because that keeps the roads paved, the military paid, and kids going to school, and he obviously doesn’t understand that concept," Cuban said.
CNN host Alisyn Camerota then challenged Cuban as to whether this meant the wealthy should pay more than they are forced to.
"But Mark, are you saying that come April 15, that you would pay more of your taxes than what you’re legally bound to?" Camerota said.
"No, that’s not what I’m saying at all," Cuban said. "But what I’m saying is ... I get offered all the time these tax advantage opportunities and I don’t take them, meaning if you buy this insurance product then you can offset your income, because those things typically end up being disallowed, and so I don’t do any of them."
He speculated Trump felt "ashamed" of his conduct regarding his taxes.
In the past, Cuban was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with insider trading before being cleared of wrongdoing. Now he is going after the SEC and helping others who are being prosecuted by the agency.