Sorry but this is a lazy take by Whyno. He doesn’t factor in athletes being subject to a jock tax, which significantly eats into potential tax savings from playing in Florida, Texas, or Nevada. Per motleyfool.com
The jock tax
While the average taxpayer will typically only have to worry about federal and state taxes, athletes have an additional tax to pay. Athletes are subject to what's known as the "jock tax," which is when they must
file tax returns in all of the jurisdictions where they play that have an income tax. This is one way states try to boost their revenues.
On average, an NFL player will file between eight to 12 non-resident state tax returns, NBA players file 16 to 20, and MLB players 20 to 25. Thanks to the jock tax, one of the most successful basketball players, LeBron James, pays income taxes in 18 states. Visiting professional teams can potentially pay thousands of dollars in state tax revenue for every day they spend in that state.
It's important to note that the jock tax is not limited to professional sports; entertainers and even certain corporate executives may also be subject to a jock tax if they're traveling for their job. Ultimately, it is an additional expense that athletes have to account for every time they travel outside their designated jurisdiction in order to perform their job duties.
