Hoylman Statement on Nfl’s Decision to End Its Tax Exempt Status

Hoylman: “This is a Touchdown for Taxpayers"

NEW YORK - State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) said: “This decision is a touchdown for New York taxpayers. I’m pleased the NFL decided today to end the charade of being a tax exempt organization and start paying its fair share of taxes. It defies common sense that an organization with $10 billion in annual revenue and a chief executive paid $44 million a year -- more than most Fortune 500 companies --would be considered a non profit entity. The NFL has joined the ranks of the NBA and Major League Baseball by voluntarily relinquishing their tax exempt status and it was prudent of them to do so before being mandated by the state and federal government."

Last October, Senator Hoylman wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell requesting that the league revoke its non-profit status. After initially hearing from the league that it would not revoke its status, Senator Hoylman introduced S.2920 at the end of January to end the NFL’s tax-exempt status at the state level. Assembly Member Deborah Glick introduced the same legislation in the New York State Assembly.

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