NFL Drops Tax-Exempt Status

According to USA Today, the NFL league office will become a taxable entity after 70 years of operating as a 501(c)(6) business league. Despite having confirmation from the IRS regarding its status as a tax-exempt organization, the NFL has decided the distraction of having such status given its “wealthy enterprise” is too great to maintain.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement to the 32 football clubs that comprise the NFL which stated the following: “As you know, the effects of the tax exempt status of the league office have been mischaracterized repeatedly in recent years. The fact is that the business of the NFL has never been tax exempt. Every dollar of income generated through television rights fees, licensing agreements, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other means is earned by the 32 clubs and is taxable there. This will remain the case even when the league office and Management Council file returns as taxable entities, and the change in filing status will make no material difference to our business. As a result, the Committees decided to eliminate this distraction.”

For more information on this story, read this article from USA Today.