Trump seems unaware NFL pays taxes

League voluntarily gave up its exemption two seasons ago

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. change its tax laws to punish organizations such as the NFL if members are “disrespecting” the national anthem or flag. Actually, the NFL gave up its tax exempt status two years ago and its 32 teams pay taxes already.

TRUMP: “Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!” — tweet on Tuesday morning.

THE FACTS: The NFL gave up its tax exemption for its league office in 2015. The 32 individual teams pay federal tax on all revenue, from ticket sales to merchandise to sponsorship to broadcast revenue.

“The NFL gave up its tax exempt status in 2015 and I think we were quite open why we were giving it up,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said on a conference call Tuesday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a memo to teams in 2015 that effects of the league office’s tax exempt status “have been mischaracterized repeatedly in recent years.”

Goodell also said then that changing the tax status wouldn’t “alter the function or operation of the league office” and “the change in filing status will make no material difference to our business.”

Goodell said that money from TV rights, licensing agreements, sponsorships and ticket sales is earned by the 32 clubs and is taxable.