He cited as examples Richard A. Clarke, the administration's former counterterrorism chief; Richard S. Foster, the Medicare official who says he was ordered to withhold cost estimates; and Paul O'Neill, the former treasury secretary whose recent memoir was critical of the president.
In that episode, an administration official instructed the chief Medicare actuary to withhold cost estimates sought by Democrats in Congress; support for the bill, which in the end passed narrowly, might have eroded if those estimates, larger than the administration's projections, had been widely known.
"The $514,000 represents withholding and estimated taxes paid, not actual taxes," Ms. Tucker said.
And last year they paid a $314 penalty because their combined income tax withholding and estimated payments on their business and investment income fell short of the minimum required under Internal Revenue Service rules.
Suppose you make tax payments (by withholding or estimated tax payments) but haven't filed tax returns (shame on you!) for three or four years?
In addition, unless 90% of the taxpayer's liability is paid before the original due date through withholding and estimated payments, a late penalty of 0.5% per month will be assessed, plus the regular interest on underpayments.
If you deducted either state and local tax withholding or estimated tax payments on your return by itemizing on Schedule A in the previous year, you in effect deducted an amount as paid which was later returned to you as a refund.
Watch withholding and estimated payments if you divorce or marry.
This week, 150 students at University College London went on "indefinite rent strike", so far withholding an estimated £250,000 worth of rent.
If you've started making more money later in the year, make sure your withholding or estimated tax payments are adjusted before Dec. 31 so you don't face underpayment penalties later.
