Biden releases 2008 tax returns

WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife released their 2008 federal and state income tax returns Wednesday, showing an adjusted gross income of $269,256.

The White House said in a statement the vice president and his wife, Jill Biden, had an after-tax income of $183,315.

Their primary sources of income were salaries from the U.S. Senate, where the vice president served before being elected to the White House, and from Widener University, Delaware Technical & Community College, as well as royalties from the audio rights to the vice president's book.

The Bidens paid $46,952 in federal income taxes, $11,164 in Delaware state income taxes and donated $1,885 to charity, the White House statement said.

Charitable donations claimed by the Bidens on their tax returns is not the sum of their annual contributions to charity, the statement said. They donate to their church, among other contributions.

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle reported an adjusted gross income of $2.6 million on their 2008 federal return. They paid $855,323 in federal income tax and $77,883 in Illinois income taxes.