"Lefty" Bitching About Taxes

At what rate? I don't think it's fair that a foreigner wouldn't be privy to the write offs associated with bring a citizen of the United States. And if its true; then why not move to Nevada and pay zero state taxes? That saves him 15% of his earnings.

 

It's true. Having worked in public accounting for nearly a decade, I dealt with several clients that were nonresident aliens (you can look up "taxation of nonresident aliens" through the IRS website if you want to get into the nitty-gritties). They pay US taxes, and several potential deductions that US citizens are able to take are not available to nonresident aliens. So, a nonresident alien often pays more in taxes on their US earnings than a US citizen would.

Which is why I earlier stated it makes little sense for Lefty (and other wealthy millionaires/billionaires) to leave the country in the name of taxes.

 

I'd be curious how the IRS would view his endorsement income. I mean, if an endorsing company is solely based in the US (or if the company makes the majority of profits in the US), I could see the IRS including that as US income. Or at least fighting it. Or the IRS could make a determination based on how much of Lefty's play is in the US and fight based on that.

 

The question I've asked a few times, and I don't believe I've yet seen answered: where would he go live that would provide favorable interest rates, and still provide the things he needs, including security/safety, health care, etc?

Given Lefty's argument for moving, I'd suspect the IRS would keep tabs as to how many days he spent in the US (as this would impact his filing status).

 

The cost of travel, access to necessary needs, etc, would add up. Can he save money? Yes, but it seems like a lot of hassle. And the IRS would chase that cash, especially in something so public. If they allow Lefty to get away, it becomes a serious issue, so they will attempt to set a precedent immediately. And I think they have a lot going in their favor.

The 183 days rule applies for a year, but there are further rules that come into play (eventually, 183 days total over 3 years comes into play - not in public accounting so I'm not 100% up on this, but I know with my boss, we have to make sure he doesn't spend more than 60 days/ year in the US).

 

omg!!! how will I ever cope with the obstacles that the Micklesons face? And if he's forced to pretend to move out of California to one of his other homes/tax shelters so as to funnel the cash being generated by him hitting a ball, I'm going to be so outraged.

link to another recent bitch that indicates what a stupid douchebag he is

STOMP

 

way to miss the point as usual... you've a real talent for that. Being rich isn't why he's a stupid douchebag... Americans generally greatly admire the rich and I'm certainly not labeling all of them this. I'm calling one particular out of touch idiot a stupid douchebag for publicly bitching about the public and his lot in life when it's the adoring public that gives him this life via endorsements. If he quietly decides moving to Florida (or elsewhere) for financial reasons makes sense, he'll be like so many other pro athletes who none of us are calling names.

STOMP

 

Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Burma.

 

I'd be curious as to the cost of living in those places. Switzerland's cost of living is pretty high.

And with kids....... I can't really imagine him wanting to raise his kids in these countries. Don't get me wrong, it could be a rather cool adventure, but I don't see him doing that to his family. Sure, there are ways around it (letting someone else have legal responsibility to the children so they can stay in the US). But the intracacies of the matters and issues related to this get very complicated, there are a lot of gray areas in this, and given the publicity he brough himself by opening his mouth, he would be more heavily scrutinized to make sure he is following everything to a "t". And like I said, I'm sure the IRS will find a way to substantially tax his earnings in the US. His best move, I suppose, would simply move to another state, which some of you suggest he do. I wouldn't want to live in any of those lower-tax-rate states over SoCal, but I suppose the cost of saving money is living in a place that he perhaps finds less desirable. People make the decision to live someone less desirable in the same of saving money everyday.

 

I don't think he's a douchebag for opening his mouth. I just think he should have been wiser about it. That's all.

I don't disagree with anything he said. I just think he should be aware of how everything and anything athletes and celebs say in the media can be blown up into something much bigger, and it always ends in the athlete/celeb having to offer an apology. I mean, this day in age, everybody is a celeb for two minutes (whether through something they did or posted through social media, whatever). Hell, we have people like the Kardashians as celebs. So I just think high-profile individuals need to have a little common sense, because whether their intentions were good or bad or right or wrong is irrelevant. The words will be twisted, and people will find a way to be outraged.

As for the US being a country of "free speech".... well duh. But as they taught me in history/government classes, we do have free speech, but we also have consequences for our free speech. It's sad it's come to this, but people often pay for their honesty in today's media-crazed world. The bigger the platform, the more likely someone is going to be offended.

 

I don't deny that he's doing the public a favor in some sense. I had that thought initially when I heard the outrage. But that doesn't make me feel any different in terms of he's an idiot for opening his mouth. You know the people that agree will quietly nod their heads. And the masses that disagree will riot. It just happens to be the way it works these days, so I still believe he's an idiot for not knowing how people would respond.

You, Sir, have apparently never met Craig Stadler.