No escaping the Taxman: Bush coughs up $186,000

WASHINGTON: Even the most powerful man in the world can't escape the taxman, and US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura had to cough up 186,000 dollars in 2006, the White House said on Friday.   

But Bush can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that he has to pay less than half the amount demanded from his notoriously wealthier Vice President Dick Cheney.   

Bush must pay some 186,378 dollars in taxes for 2006 on an taxable income of some 642,905 dollars which included his salary of about 400,000 dollars as well as investment incomes, the White House said in a statement.   

Cheney, and his wife Lynne, declared some 1,614,862 dollars in earned income, which included the vice president's government salary of 208,575 dollars as well as royalties from his wife's books and an advance for a forthcoming novel. Their combined tax bill came to some 413,326 dollars.   

The Bushs' tax returns also showed they donated some 78,100 dollars to churches, charitable organizations and the volunteer firefighters in Crawford, Texas, where their family ranch is located.   

The Cheneys donated more than 104,000 dollars to worthy causes, which brings their charitable gifts to more than 7.8 million dollars since the start of the vice-presidency in 2001.