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Eugene

(61,872 posts) Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:17 PM Mar 2015

NFL's tax-exempt status is again under fire in Congress

Source: Reuters

NFL's tax-exempt status is again under fire in Congress

BY STEVE GINSBURG
WASHINGTON xx Mon Mar 9, 2015 7:06pm EDT

(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.

Chaffetz, a 47-year-old firebrand who became chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee in January, wants that to change.

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6 replies

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NFL's tax-exempt status is again under fire in Congress (Original Post) Eugene Mar 2015 OP

When the Koch Brothers get to him, LakeVermilion Mar 2015 #1

It's to the point were as far as I'm concerned.....NOTHING should be tax exempt. yourout Mar 2015 #2

Good Arcadiasix Mar 2015 #3

Why aren't we arguing tax exempt status of churches while we're at it? Initech Mar 2015 #4

I think one DUer mentioned getting rid of all yeoman6987 Mar 2015 #6

I don't think the NFL corporation even makes a profit LittleBlue Mar 2015 #5

LakeVermilion

(1,040 posts)

1. When the Koch Brothers get to him,

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:20 PM

Mar 2015

he'll do a 180 and say that as a matter of fairness, no corporation should pay taxes!

yourout

(7,527 posts)

2. It's to the point were as far as I'm concerned.....NOTHING should be tax exempt.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:21 PM

Mar 2015

I know this will hurt some but the whole idea of tax-exempt has become so corrupted that the only answer is to get rid of it.

Arcadiasix

(255 posts)

3. Good

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:22 PM

Mar 2015

Initech

(100,063 posts)

4. Why aren't we arguing tax exempt status of churches while we're at it?

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:24 PM

Mar 2015

Come on people - our government is broke and we're arguing over the legitimacy of just one organization? First rule of wiping out debt is to bring in revenue.

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

6. I think one DUer mentioned getting rid of all

Reply to Initech (Reply #4)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:58 PM

Mar 2015

Tax exempt including churches and non profits. I am for that 100 percent. Nobody should get away with not paying taxes.

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)

5. I don't think the NFL corporation even makes a profit

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 08:54 PM

Mar 2015

I've never seen their tax return, but it sounds like it acts as a pass-through entity regardless of its actual corporate status. Its purpose appears to be taking amounts from various NFL teams/contracts and using those funds to pay salaries, rent, and other expenses for a small number of NFL employees.

In other words, whether this so-called loophole is ended or not, the NFL won't pay taxes regardless. The profits run through the teams, who pay taxes. It's political grandstanding for those who don't know how the NFL corporation operates. Even if they make a profit by accident, they can adjust their revenues to match their expenses and they still won't pay tax, or just use losses from prior years to zero out taxable income.

This is a non-issue

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