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With the 2020 presidential election being right around the corner, Democrats have officially moved to gain access to President Trump's tax returns.

This formal push for Trump's tax returns comes after Mueller's investigation did not find Trump guilty of colluding with the Russian government in 2016.

Everything You Need to Know

Democrat Richard Neal, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, sent a very specific letter to the IRS commissioner. In the letter, Neal requests full tax returns from President Trump's business and personal dealings between 2013 and 2018. Neal furthermore expects the aforementioned tax returns to be handed over by April 10, 2019.

An excerpt of Neal's appeal to the IRS commissioner reads as follows:

"In order to fairly make that determination, we must obtain President Trump’s tax returns and review whether the IRS is carrying out its responsibilities. The Committee has a duty to examine whether Congressional action may be needed to require such audits, and to oversee that they are conducted properly."

Why Hasn't Trump Released his Tax Returns

Trump's tax returns have served as a subject of controversy since his entry into the 2016 presidential election. While candidates generally release their tax returns, Trump chose not to. When questioned about this decision, then-candidate Trump explained that he faced an audit from the IRS. Subsequently, his attorneys advised him against releasing his tax returns to the public.

The president's explanation has not silenced his critics. Instead, they maintain that Trump could still technically release his tax returns even while under audit. However, doing this would be contrary to the advice of his lawyers. Apparently, the president chose to adhere to the professional, legal advice which he received.

Ulterior Motives

Democrats' push to gain access to the president's tax returns has always attracted censure from the right-wing. The timing of Neal's appeal is likely to increase conservative censure by tenfold.

There are many right-leaning Americans who believe that Democrats simply want President Trump to be guilty of something. A fair amount of conservatives maintain that the newfound interest in Trump's tax returns has resurfaced since the Mueller investigation resulted in no indictments of the president for Russian collusion.