Mitt Romney: I pay at least 13 per cent tax every year

Mitt Romney sought to clarify his tax status yesterday by saying he has paid at least 13 per cent on his income over the last 10 years, countering claims from his political rivals that he has paid nothing to the US Treasury.

The disclosure comes after a concerted campaign by the Democrat Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, who says he has been told by an investor in Bain Capital – the venture capital firm set up by Mr Romney – that the Republican presidential candidate had paid no tax for at least a decade.

"I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 per cent," Mr Romney said."