Congress: Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of the National Football League

[Judi Lynn]

Congress: Revoke the Tax-Exempt Status of the National Football League
Lynda Woolard

Petition by Lynda Woolard
New Orleans, LA

Despite the fact that it is a $9Billion/Year industry, the National Football League (NFL) continues to enjoy status as a non-profit organization -- meaning it doesn’t have to pay federal corporate taxes.

The Commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, makes nearly $30 million a year -- earning more than the heads of companies like Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart. Through TV deals alone, the NFL has inked nearly $30 billion with various television networks. And so often, fans like you and me are asked to foot the bill for new stadiums through our own taxes.

Yet despite being the most profitable sports league in the entire world, the NFL does not pay federal taxes.

The NFL should pay their fair share towards our economy! Just like Major League Baseball, which gave up its nonprofit status in recent years, as well as the National Basketball Association, the NFL should not be able to hide under a nonprofit status in order to avoid paying federal taxes.

More:
https://www.change.org/petitions/congress-revoke-the-tax-exempt-status-of-the-national-football-league?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=34936&alert_id=zMIbIhdRlc_NdaTaDNvCQ

[bunnies]

1. The NFL is tax exempt?!

What the fuck?!

[sarisataka]

2. All religions are

[bunnies]

3. !!

Well done.

[tabbycat31]

4. For the win

[Chan790]

5. It's the closest I'm getting to church on Sunday.

[Judi Lynn]

7. It seems to be a well-kept secret. Big shock to me, too. n/t

[gopiscrap]

6. Yup I agree. I don't think any entity doing "business" in the US should be tax exempt.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. I'm enjoying football season with the fam. I endorse this revocation.

[Barack_America]

9. Completely agree. Nt

[cui bono]

10. What the hell???

How are they non-profit???

So they don't pay taxes AND they get cities to build their stadiums for them?

[KamaAina]

11. It's an obscure type of nonprofit called a 501(c)6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League#Corporate_structure

The National Football League is an unincorporated nonprofit 501(c)(6) association, meaning its league office is not subject to income tax because it does not make a profit. In contrast, each individual team is subject to tax because they make a profit. The NFL considers itself a trade association made up of and financed by its 32 member teams.

This is the same kind of BS that teams in all sports use when they they want a new stadium or arena. They structure their deals so that all the profits from TV rights, merchandise, concessions, etc. go to subsidiaries, so they can claim that "the team" is losing money (and threaten to move if they don't get their stadium).

edit: Guess who else uses 501(c)6 status? Chambers of commerce. What a gigantic scam that must be, especially the far-right U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501%28c%29#501.28c.29.286.29

501(c)(6) organizations include Business Leagues, Home Builders Association, the Security Industry Association, Chambers of Commerce, Real Estate Boards, etc. such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Edison Electric Institute, and the National Football League.