Experts: Possible Tax Penalties for Gov. Sanford

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s use of state planes for personal and political trips could open him to federal tax penalties because the flights never were recorded as taxable fringe benefits.

Tax experts reviewed an Associated Press analysis of more than 100 Sanford flights and said numerous trips could have been subject to taxes.

Internal Revenue Service rules require adding the value of non-official flights to the governor’s wages for taxes.

Sanford spokesman Ben Fox says all the governor’s travel is official business so it is not taxable.

But tax experts say flights with his sons, for example, could be taxed because they have no official role.

The governor’s travel has been scrutinized since his June trip to see an Argentine mistress.