Should the NFL Be Tax Exempt?

[ClydeR]

This question came up before but I can't find where. Now it's back in the spotlight..


(Reuters) - Congressman Jason Chaffetz insists his bid to overturn the NFL's decades-old tax-exempt status has nothing to do with political posturing or electioneering.

And the Utah Republican says his campaign to get rid of the tax break is not motivated by the recent travails of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who has been excoriated for turning a blind eye to domestic abuse by some of his players.

"It's an issue of basic fairness," Chaffetz, his palms turned upward, said in an interview. "The National Football League should have to pay taxes like everybody else."

The teams that comprise the NFL, boasting some $10 billion in annual revenues, pay taxes on their profits, as well as on merchandise and player salaries. But because it's listed a non-profit trade or industry association, the league's head office gets a free pass.

More... (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/09/us-nfl-taxes-congress-idUSKBN0M52DQ20150309)

[Tisket]

No.

I also believe that churches should have their tax exempt status revoked as well.

The government would be in the black in no time.

[Astray]

No.

/thread

[Gelston]

Yes.

Revive thread.

[JackWhisper]

No.

I also believe that churches should have their tax exempt status revoked as well.

The government would be in the black in no time.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-hhaNxnSmA

[Astray]

But... why Gelston?!

[Jarvan]

No.

I also believe that churches should have their tax exempt status revoked as well.

The government would be in the black in no time.

Don't forget charities. No reason for them to be tax exempt either.

[Wrathbringer]

I've been tax exempt for nearly 20 years. Highly recommended, and its catching on lately. If you do it right, the government pays you tens of thousands of dollars a year between tax returns, tax credits, food stamps, medicaid, wic, disability, unemployment, etc. I agree with tisket. Properly funded, the system works so that I don't have to. For this gravy train to continue we're going to need every group paying taxes. Thanks, worker bees, and thank you obummer.

[Warriorbird]

If church work is primarily charitable I can see the point of their exemption. Much of it often isn't. I can see charities being exempt for actual charity+operating costs. The stuff that doesn't fit in either? Not so much.

[loxe]

no professional sports system should be tax exempt. and no church that requires a tithe should be exempt IMO, and further all churches property holdings beyond 1 primary place of worship should be subject to property tax.

[Parkbandit]

You could tax the NFL, but they essentially make no money because they are a trade organization. The money is generated by each team, who are taxed.

This is a non-issue.

[JackWhisper]

You could tax the NFL, but they essentially make no money because they are a trade organization. The money is generated by each team, who are taxed.

This is a non-issue.

How come all the other sports, like the NBA, and MLB, are taxed, and not the NFL? What's the difference?

[Parkbandit]

Senators Angus King and Tom Coburn have pushed to strip the N.F.L. and other professional sports organizations of their tax-exempt status. Like others, they have complained that the 501(c)(6) status for some of these groups is a massive scam against taxpayers. But the reality is different.


The tax exemption does not apply to the individual teams, which must pay taxes on their profits (although there are other advantageous aspects in the tax code for the teams). The tax exemption applies to the central league offices, which coordinate and manage the affairs of the entire operation.


The leagues are not profit centers. They are pass-through entities that pay salaries for their personnel; cover other expenses such as office rent, legal and consulting fees, travel and entertainment; and then distribute any surplus to the teams.


To be sure, in 2007 Major League Baseball opted to forgo its 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status (and the N.B.A. has never been tax exempt). It did so to avoid the onerous Form 990 reporting requirements of tax-exempt organizations and with the knowledge that they would pay no income tax after losing their special status.


Life is simpler now for the M.L.B. For one, they don’t have to make public the salaries of their top executives. These executives, however, still have to file individual tax returns and pay income taxes.


The N.F.L., N.H.L., P.G.A. and L.G.P.A. have chosen to retain their tax exempt status. For the N.F.L., this decision is likely because of a small and idiosyncratic tax liability if the league were to transition out of 501(c)(6) status. The liability would result from a debt forgiveness policy in its previous stadium loan program – a program that reduced public financing for new stadiums.


Meanwhile, Form 990 reporting requirements provide a window into the N.F.L.’s extravagance: For the 2012 calendar year, Roger Goodell, the N.F.L. commissioner, was paid $44.2 million in compensation.


There are lots of aspects of the U.S. tax code that need serious work. Revoking 501(c)(6) status for the sports leagues is not one of them.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/09/03/should-pro-sport-leagues-get-tax-breaks/the-nonprofit-status-of-sports-leagues-is-irrelevant

To be honest, the NFL should reorganize and drop their tax exempt status. There are more positives than negatives. I read somewhere that if the NFL was taxed, they would pay something like 1 million dollars in taxes on their "good" years... and 1 million to them is probably 10x more than what they are paying people to keep up with the reporting requirements of a 501 (c)(6).

[Parkbandit]

How come all the other sports, like the NBA, and MLB, are taxed, and not the NFL? What's the difference?

The way they are organized.

[Latrinsorm]

How come all the other sports, like the NBA, and MLB, are taxed, and not the NFL? What's the difference?The NBA and MLB are smart.

[Wrathbringer]

The NBA and MLB are boring.

Ftfy

[Gelston]

How come all the other sports, like the NBA, and MLB, are taxed, and not the NFL? What's the difference?

The MLB used to be Tax Exempt. They dropped it themselves, and now are no longer forced to publicly announce their top exec's salaries, and can keep their Government more out of their shit in general.

The NHL, PGA, and LPGA are also tax exempt though... So your "all the other sports" thing isn't really valid.

[Latrinsorm]

The NHL, PGA, and LPGA are also tax exempt though... So your "all the other sports" thing isn't really valid.You say that as if you believe hockey and golf are sports.

[Gelston]

You say that as if you believe hockey and golf are sports.

Hockey is more of a sport than Basketball at least.

[Androidpk]

Hockey is more of a sport than Basketball at least.

:lol:

[JackWhisper]

Hockey is more of a sport than Basketball at least.

Are you from Canada, bro?

[Kembal]

The MLB used to be Tax Exempt. They dropped it themselves, and now are no longer forced to publicly announce their top exec's salaries, and can keep their Government more out of their shit in general.

Congress has the power to fuck with MLB big time if it wants. MLB's antitrust exemption is the result of a Supreme Court decision, and can be overturned by a new law at any time.

[Androidpk]

No more tax exempt status for the NFL.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/28/nfl-tax-exempt-status_n_7162874.html

[Parkbandit]

No more tax exempt status for the NFL.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/28/nfl-tax-exempt-status_n_7162874.html

Smart on the NFL.

[~Rocktar~]

And in a follow up story, the NFL tells everyone to fuck off, if you don't like the money we make, don't buy tickets. Now, we don't have to tell you shit.

[Androidpk]

Smart on the NFL.

Yeah, especially with all the negative press they've had this past year.

[Parkbandit]

Yeah, especially with all the negative press they've had this past year.

It was a dumb argument from really ignorant people "OMG TEH NFL R TAX EXEMPT!?!? THEY DON'T PAY TAXES AND THEY MAKE BILLIONS!"

All it did was give the really, really stupid people one less thing to hurt their brains over.

[Androidpk]

It was a dumb argument from really ignorant people "OMG TEH NFL R TAX EXEMPT!?!? THEY DON'T PAY TAXES AND THEY MAKE BILLIONS!"

All it did was give the really, really stupid people one less thing to hurt their brains over.

They'll still have the Redskins to fret about!