The NFL
 

Anyone heard of this petition to Congress via Change.org : "Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of the National Football League"

Apparently the NFL makes millions perhaps billions all tax free. :eek:

What gives the NFL tax-exempt status?

Some people consider it a religion..:D

Let then make they're money regardless how. It's the American way. You don't know that??? :confused:

National Felons League

NFL Arrests Database | UTSanDiego.com

It's another 1% thing.

And the rich get richer...........


How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers - Gregg Easterbrook - The Atlantic

"In NFL city after NFL city, this pattern is repeated. CenturyLink Field, where the Seattle Seahawks play, opened in 2002, with Washington State taxpayers providing $390 million of the $560 million construction cost. The Seahawks, owned by Paul Allen, one of the richest people in the world, pay the state about $1 million annually in rent in return for most of the revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and broadcasting (all told, perhaps $200 million a year). Average people are taxed to fund Allen’s private-jet lifestyle."

Thier.

In addition to the sea-chickens that stadium is also used by the
Washington state cougars, The seattle sounders, various supercross and monster truck events, home construction expos, trade shows, concerts, etc
How much revenue is generated by all those people who attend all those events?
How many people work at those events, earning money and paying taxes?

People who go to those events also buy gas at the local station, buy food at the local restuarants, etc.
Tourism is a cash cow.
They spend money and that revenue promotes the economy as well as generates tax revenue, which offsets some if not all the cost to the city of that stadium.
People who work at those events also earn money which they spend and contribute to the economy and city coffers.
in many cases building a new sporting facility can also spur a wave of urban renewal, turning blighted downtown into a yuppy paradise complete with townhomes, yuppy cafes, starbux, etc (which is not necesasarily a good thing).

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some occasional corruption where the gumbint O'fficials brother-in-laws get their pockets lined and I vote against such a deal whenever I get the chance, but it isn't as one-sided as it seems on the surface.

if all the numbers were broke down and analyzed it's probably a win-win.

Yes, they do. That's how a trade organization works. The NFL doesn't actually MAKE money.
It takes in revenue and pays salaries, costs, overhead, and whatever is left goes to the players and owners WHO PAY TAXES.

There is not a great big ole pipe O'money that is not getting taxed. There is not a great big pile of someone else's cheeze out there that you are getting cheated out of.

Does anyone out there think that corporations do not pay dividends to shareholders to maintain tax levels at reasonable levels?

If a corporation pays all of it's net income in dividends then it makes no profit and pays no taxes, but the shareholders who receive the dividends have to pay taxes on it (eventually).

Their SmileWavy

Actually dividends are paid out AFTER tax not before. So a corporation would be taxed at the corporate tax rate on income then pay dividends with what is left. Which is taxed again at 15%.

There is a segment/explanation on the NFL being tax-exempt playing today on NPR news. I was pulled away before I could listen to much of that piece but it should be found on the NPR website later today.

A few years ago we had a bunch of free market conservatives spin their promotion of taxpayer funded sports facilities in Cincinnati using just that argument. Private industry is all well and good until it's something they want, then they want their welfare. They raised the sales tax by 1/2 a percent on the locals. All the car dealers moved out of the county. It would be better if the NFL provided its own damn stadiums and we keep the tax revenue from the car dealers. But right wingers like their sports and they're happy to make taxpayers foot the bill.

Wichita built a new arena as part of their downtown rejuvenation, it was paid for by a $0.05 sales tax that was in effect for three years and voted on by taxpayers. I suspect most stadiums are the same, the average city council doesn't have the clout to build a stadium against the wishes of the taxpayers and stay in office. People that complain about how public money pays for sports stadiums are too stupid and lazy to do their homework. It's really a great deal, as the tourism economic impact is HUGE relative to the stadium cost. Hotels, restaurants, shopping, gas, there are numerous positive impacts.

If you do some research you might find that business taxes in America are high, not low. High enough that companies manipulate income world wide to avoid paying tax in the USA.

The NFL's not an issue. It's Apple and their ilk that are fleecing you.

Lowering the tax rate would increase revenue.

The area surrounding the stadiums in Seattle is essentially dead if there is no game being played. There are a fair number of offices in the area, but not much street level business except for sports bars. Most of them close by 7pm during the week, after the office workers go home. There used to be a pretty good art, music, and nightlife scene, but many of those places have slowly vacated over the last 10 years. Lots of empty storefronts these days.
There is one new condo tower going in directly next to the football stadium, but who knows if it will be enough to turn the area around.

The odd thing is, the area is by no means run down - most of the buildings look great these days - it's just that nobody seems to want to be there.

If we lower tax rates we won't be able to build all those stadiums for NFL owners. They'd have to provide their own business facilities - like small businesses do.

Business will find a way to avoid taxes as long as the rates are greater than zero.

Corporate Tax Dodgers: 10 Companies and Their Tax Loopholes - IPS