Unionized college athletes: Taxes? What taxes?

[BDYZR]

Probably doesn't belong on this thread, but

 

http://www.mlrpc.com/articles/unionized-college-athletes-taxes-what-taxes

 

Interesting...

 

[Apis Bull]

That's an interesting take

[charsibb]

The Law of Unintended Consequences strikes again!!

[aroth]

My understanding is that the IRS is being kind by not forcing any food or housing supplied to athletes to be considered income, as it isn't an educational expense. I think we are all aware of how long the IRS's kindness lasts, and unionizing/being deemed an employee would certainly be poking the hornet's nest. This move could come back to bite all college athletes if it stirs the IRS into enforcing housing and food athletes receive to be claimed as income.

[Apis Bull]

The IRS should go after it.  Additionally, now they'll have to pay union dues.  This falls into that, "Be careful what you wish for..." category.

[Al]

Housing and food are already suppose to be reported as income when filing your return.  Chances are the IRS would still not consider the tuition and books income even if scholarship athletes were designated employees but additional taxes (social security, medicare) would have to be paid on the compensation received.  The benefits would probably not be taxed because what professional athlete gets taxed for training at a team facility.  But athletes may owe state income tax in states they perform.  So players in Florida would owe taxes for road games in other states.

[namuh-bull]

I don't think that housing is taxable to an employee as income if as part of their employment they are required to live on site in employer owned housing.

I really doubt the IRS would risk the ridicule by going after scholarship athletes. On the other hand, if they were paid cash then that could change.

Go Bulls!

[smazza]

pay them the market price and they will figure a way to pay taxes

 

to keep exploiting them isnt an option

[smazza]

The IRS should go after it.  Additionally, now they'll have to pay union dues.  This falls into that, "Be careful what you wish for..." category.

 

 

apis- i see you are a problem identifier not a problem solver

 

they should go after an under educated kid that is already being exploited!    makes no sense

 

and let cliven bundy keep stealing 

 

if kids were paid fair market value there would be no problem

[bullsbucsfan426]

That begs the question-what is fair market value? 

 

The third string backup QB doesn't really have any value. Now, if it were say B.J. Daniels or Matt Grothe, they would probably have good recognition here in Tampa and perhaps with other conference schools, but nothing beyond that. They might get local marketing deals i.e. "come eat a sub at Publix, I endorse them". But they surely wouldn't be getting monster deals of the type a Johnny Manziell or a Marquise Lee would receive.