U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who serves as House Oversight Committee Chair, pressed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a letter "for more information about how much the league saves" because of its current tax exemption, and "whether it considered giving up the exemption," according to Bernie Becker of THE HILL. Chaffetz, a "long-time critic of the NFL's tax status," also sent the letter to the NHL, two lacrosse leagues, three golf associations, two tennis tours and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He said that the IRS now "believes that the NFL's exemption, now almost a half-century old, shouldn't have been handed out." Chaffetz in the letter also asked Goodell whether the NFL is "exempt from state and local taxes, whether it has ever sought exemptions for special events and how the league promotes the business interests of its members." The NBA and MLB "don't have tax exemptions" (THEHILL.com, 3/26). Chaffetz recently "introduced legislation to eliminate tax-exempt status for professional leagues with revenues" exceeding $10M. He also recently said that he would like to have Goodell "testify before Congress on the tax-exemption enjoyed" by the NFL (REUTERS, 3/26).
