The Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks are pushing against a proposed ‘millionaire tax’ in Washington state, arguing that it could become a detriment to attracting free agents.
Washington state has refused to implement a tax on salaries or wages for the last century, but with a budget shortfall at hand, lawmakers are now considering a 10-percent annual tax on anyone earning $1 million.
And with the NFL’s minimum salary at just shy of that figure at $885,000, the vast majority of Seahawks players would be impacted by the bill.
That would represent a dramatic change for one of eight NFL teams that currently benefit from the absence of a state income tax.
‘There were a bunch of agents texting me the other day like, ‘Hey, can’t use that anymore, buddy,’ Seahawks general manager John Schneider told Seattle Sports 710 this week. ‘I think it is for all the pro teams here in town. It’s always been a huge attraction, especially competing with the California teams. It’s been a big deal for us.
‘So, it’s going to sting, from a recruiting standpoint and what that looks like. I’m sure Mike Reinfeldt and Mickey Loomis and all the cap guys that have been here before, too, are looking at this like, dang.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider sees Seattle’s advantage fading in Washington
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold holds the Lombardi Trophy at the team’s parade
‘It’s going to sting, no question about it.’
The good news for Seattle is that Washington’s state income tax would still be lower than California’s, which reaches 13.3 percent for those earning more than $1 million annually.
Washington’s proposed state income tax would pay for school meals, childcare services, family tax credits and help eliminate sales taxes on certain items in a bid to increase consumerism.
The state House has already passed the bill, which now goes back to the Senate after that body approved a previous version.
Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson has indicated support for the measure.
The other NFL teams playing in states without income taxes are the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Seahawks recently lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs, who gave the running back a three-year deal worth $43 million.
