New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid more than $500,000 in personal income taxes last year, reporting to the Internal Revenue Service that his investments did well but not enough to compensate for losses the previous year, according to returns made public Friday.
The returns showed that the mayor paid more tax than the prior year on household employees; earned between $60,000 and $99,999 from leasing a horse and stable; and put $500,000 or more into a trust for his ex-wife, Susan Bloomberg.
Since 2001, Mr. Bloomberg has annually released highly redacted returns. In the spaces where his income and other financial data would be included on the tax forms, Mr. Bloomberg's accountants substitute a code letter representing ranges of dollar amounts. For example, the mayor listed his adjusted gross income as "G," the highest category, which stands for $500,000 or more.
Still, tax-related documents reveal details about Mr. Bloomberg's life and finances. They show, for example, that he made money from two appearances in episodes of "Law and Order" and a Muppets Christmas special he appeared in last year.
A conflict-of-interest statement from the mayor provided details of income earned from various positions and investments he holds. They showed he earned income from his investment in "Focus," a film adaptation of an Arthur Miller story he backed years ago, but that had been a source of loss until now.
Horse show winnings were also listed by Mr. Bloomberg, whose youngest daughter, Georgina Bloomberg, is an equestrienne who won her first grand prix in a horse show last month.
Details of two investment vehicles in which Mr. Bloomberg invested, QAM Select Investors and QAM Private Investors, also appeared in the documents; the mayor reported a capital loss of more than $500,000 associated with the former and a capital gain of more than $500,00 with the latter. The funds were run by Quadrangle Asset Management, formerly headed by Steven L. Rattner, who left the firm last year. Mr. Rattner did not return a call for comment.
The mayor also reported that a friend, Gregory Vereschagin, still has not repaid a loan of between $100,000 and $249,999 that was due in 2002. In an interview Friday, Mr. Vereschagin said he "absolutely" intends to repay the mayor but "I just haven't had the means to do that."
Years ago, Mr. Vereschagin's name was listed as one of Connecticut's top delinquent taxpayers. Mr. Vereschagin said Friday that the state claimed he owed money, but when the situation was settled, he was issued a refund.
Since becoming the city's chief executive in January 2002, Mr. Bloomberg has foregone a city salary, accepting $1 a year to be the mayor.
Mr. Bloomberg has a long history of refusing to release his full tax returns. In 2001, during his first campaign for mayor, he lost his temper on the steps of City Hall when pressed by a reporter about why he refused to release his returns when each of his opponents released their IRS filings. "That's fine," Mr. Bloomberg snapped. "They don't make anything."
