Bushes paying $221,635 in taxes

WASHINGTON – The federal tax bill for President Bush and his wife: $221,635.

That’s how much the Bushes owed on their adjusted gross income of $923,807 for the year 2007, according to a joint return released Friday.

The Bushes have paid $203,894 so far, which means they’ll need to break out the checkbook – they owe the government $17,741.

Their income total includes a $150,000 advance received by Laura Bush for the children’s book she co-authored with daughter Jenna.

Last year, the president and Laura Bush paid $186,378 in federal taxes on their income of $765,801.

Bush’s salary as president is about $400,000.

Almost 29 percent of the Bushes’ income comes from interest on investments. The largest share of that interest was paid out from one place, The Lone Star Trust, according to the return released by the White House.