Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Media & Entertainment Law Blogs -> Sports Law Blog
(866) 635-2689 for Personal Injury or (866) 635-9402 for Criminal Defense
Find a Local Lawyer
Divorce (866) 635-6190
Personal Injury (866) 635-2689
Criminal Defense (866) 635-9402
Media & Entertainment Law
: Sports Law BlogProfessor Edward Zelinsky on Tax Considerations and Cliff Lee's deal with the Phillies
By Rick Karcher, Michael McCann, Geoffrey Rapp, Greg Skidmore, and Howard Wasserman
Cliff Lee's decision to go to Philadelphia is interesting from a state and local tax perspective. It had appeared that Lee's choice was between the Yankees (in a state with some of the nation's highest state income tax rates) and the Rangers (in a state with no state income tax). Presumably, the Yankees' bid was designed to offset some or all of the tax disadvantages of playing in New York.
The Phillies confronted essentially the same tax competition with the Rangers as did the Yankees. Pennsylvania is a high tax state in which to live and work. The City of Philadelphia has been among the most aggressive municipalities taxing nonresident athletes for the days they play in Philadelphia.
The obvious lesson is that taxes aren't everything. The sublter lesson is that the Phillies likely paid more for Lee than they would have had they been located in a low tax state and think they will recoup in ticket sales or other revenue streams the extra amounts they pay Lee because of the Pennsylvania tax burden. Thus, in the final analysis, that burden likely falls on the fans.
Full post as published by Sports Law Blog on December 14, 2010 (boomark / email).
Hurricane Claims
State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. reaches settlement deal with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

Zelinsky: Tax Considerations of Cliff Lee's Deal with the Phillies
Prof. Zelinsky discusses Warren Buffett
Zelinsky on Davis's Quiet Dormant Commerce Clause Revolution
Zelinsky: Tax and the Swine Flu
Zelinsky: Tax Nexus and Apportionment
Zelinsky on ERISA 514(a) Preemption







