How does the jock tax work?
Christopher Pierce
Updated on February 26, 2026
However, under the “jock tax” detailed above, professional athletes pay state income tax in each state they play. The legal theory is that you are required to pay state income taxes in the state you earn that income and thus the professional athletes earn income in the stadiums they play in each season.
Do NFL players get taxed in every state they play in?
28, 2020. The tax picture for athletes gets more complicated for “away” games. States with an income tax generally tax all income earned in the state by non-residents. In a normal season, an average National Football League player will file between eight to 12 non-resident state tax returns, said Losi.
Do athletes get taxed in every state?
The income professional athletes earn in any opposing team’s state they play in over the course of a season is typically subject to those states’ income taxes, what is known as the jock tax.
What state has the highest jock tax?
California
California still hits the hardest. Smart Asset reports, “Athletes who play for one of the NFL’s three California teams pay a marginal tax rate of 13.3%, the highest state-level tax in the country.
What states have no jock tax?
Other states followed suit; by 2014, the only U.S. jurisdictions with major professional teams without a jock tax were Florida, Texas, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. (the three states do not impose personal income taxes, while the U.S. Congress specifically prohibits the District of Columbia from imposing its …
What is LeBron’s salary after taxes?
Thanks to “jock tax” laws enacted by many states, LeBron—living in Florida, which has no state income tax—still pays income tax in 18 other states he plays basketball in, as well as federal taxes of about $17 million at the 39.6% maximum rate. His total gross income for 2015 was $64.8 million.
What are jock taxes How is Tennessee’s jock tax unique?
The tax was unique in several respects. First, it was a flat-rate tax of $2,500 per game, imposed on all players who were on a team’s roster for a game in the state, including Tennessee residents. However, the tax applied to a maximum of three games per calendar year.
Do professional athletes pay taxes?
To the victor go the spoils in professional athletics, but those with the biggest salaries and endorsements also have hefty tax obligations. While it’s rare that solid tax figures for private individuals are released, most high-earning athletes are subject to the top U.S. tax rate.