Phil and high taxes..

Bobby_Kennedy

Seems poor Phil is having a hard time paying all those taxes...

“If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and state, my tax rate is 62, 63 per cent,” Mickelson said. “So I’ve got to make some decisions on what to do.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2013/0122/1224329143374.html

From what I've read, the average golfer on the PGA tour is a Republican..

Anatom

Despite the obvious questions and gaps in the information he gave, I'm sure we're all gutted for him.

Not sure I'm terribly comfortable with sporting figures getting all political. It never sits well with me. Still, I'd take a tax rate of 63% on that sort of career earnings, in a heartbeat.

Rippeditup

BooHoo Phil...

Moaning in an interview about his money issues, Is he that out of touch with reality..

staker

Get the coffees in Phil you tightwad-take your beatin:p

TRS30

Rippeditup wrote: »

BooHoo Phil...

Moaning in an interview about his money issues, Is he that out of touch with reality..

I'm not sure if he was moaning as such, more stating facts. It's very easy to say if I had his income I wouldn't be worrying however you never know until you are in the position. No one likes paying taxes and most people will pay less if they can.

I am a Phil fan so my opinion is probably clouded

Anatom

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan too - great golfer and a decent guy to boot. His reaction to Rose's victory in the Ryder Cup spoke volumes for the man.

He has since apologised for his comments though... Here is Mickelson's full statement: "I know I have my usual pre-tournament press conference scheduled this week but I felt I needed to address the comments I made following the Humana Challenge now.



"I absolutely love what I do. I love and appreciate the game of golf and the people who surround it. I'm as motivated as I've ever been to work on my game, to compete and to win championships.



"Right now, I'm like many Americans who are trying to understand the new tax laws. I've been learning a lot over the last few months and talking with people who are trying to help me make intelligent and informed decisions. I certainly don't have a definitive plan at this time, but like everyone else I want to make decisions that are best for my future and my family.



"Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public. I apologize to those I have upset or insulted and assure you I intend to not let it happen again."

http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2013/01/phil-mickelson-apologizes-for-comments-on-taxes.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter


Sounds like he was just thinking aloud like many of us do and was caught on the hop...

mag

facepalm by kpmg over phils nonsense

Benicetomonty

I can see where he's coming from though in fairness; everyone has a right to bemoan taxes, especially at a rate of 63% (if that figure is accurate). At least he didn't go all Depardieu on us and head to Russia!

Rippeditup

TRS30 wrote: »

I'm not sure if he was moaning as such, more stating facts. It's very easy to say if I had his income I wouldn't be worrying however you never know until you are in the position. No one likes paying taxes and most people will pay less if they can.

I am a Phil fan so my opinion is probably clouded

I fully understand this but talking about his woes in an interview when unemployment and poverty is becoming a massive problem for the not so lucky in the US.

I hate paying taxes as much as the next person but I don't go moaning to my unemployed mates about it and how hard it is to be making money when they are struggling to pay their bills.

The Guardian

Doesnt Tiger alway rip Phil for being the ultimate tightass?
Or maybe thats vice versa..

mag

Benicetomonty wrote: »

..especially at a rate of 63% (if that figure is accurate)..

it isnt, his marginal rate is around 52%.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/leonardburman/2013/01/21/phil-mickelson-stop-whining-and-give-thanks-for-your-good-fortune/

ForeRight

mag wrote: »

facepalm by kpmg over phils nonsense

KPMG pizza shop girl gave them all the publicity they need for this year already

FixdePitchmark

Whilst you may not agree with Phil, it is nice to hear him express his views. So many pro. golfers are fairly dull IMO.

The views that Phil expresses on taxation are very close to home. His views have been the most successful in Irish elections for over 20 years. Free market liberalism based on low tax. The model for this system was in fact the US and British Thatcherism.

So if we have objections to his views, we should really look at our own general elections and fiscal policies since the formation of The Progressive Democrats.

So as individuals we may criticise Phil, but as Irish, we should look at ourselves first.

So Phil, move to Ireland– your views are close to home here. Even if the women are not to your taste.

In fairness, what would golf be like to watch without Phil, Tiger, Rory. Once the two lads were out of the HSBC last week, the tournament died. There are only a couple of the top lads that would get you out of your bed and keep you watching.

As whacky as he is, he has a personality.

Pdoghue

Without getting into the politics of it too much, anyone earning the kind of dough that Phil does ought to understand that their natural wish to keep as much money they earn as they can has to be balanced by some kind of obligations to society, and have some perspective. Whether Phil is getting the best out of his tax accountants is another thing. Whether we in Ireland follow the Boston model more than Berlin, at least we have a more equal society than the US.

And come on, if you are saying that golf is not worth watching without Rory, Tiger, and Phil, I presume you are taking the p**s. What do you expect, circus tricks? they are golfers.. is it not enough that they can all hit golf shots most of us can only dream about?

As for Phil's 'personality' it's well known that his smiley, clean cut, image is only a facade.

Phil's talk re moving to Florida, giving up, retiring, semi-retiring, whatever, is loser talk - he should be concentrating on winning Majors.

Jazzzman

Game goes to pot, starts talking about taxes.

I wonder if he'd be whinging quite as much if he was getting a few Ws.

PRAF

Phil was unwise to even bring up the issue (or to be more accurate, to honestly respond to journalists questions on this issue). However.....

- He is presumably already paying tens of millions (perhaps as much as 20m) every year in taxes so he is already doing his bit in terms of paying his taxes
- He hasn't taken the easy way out (yet) by moving to Florida, Monaco, or elsewhere to minimise his tax bill
- In a roundabout way, he is actually highlighting a problem for governments in that tax rates over 50% are largely proven to be counterproductive because lots of very wealthy people are mobile and can easily move to a lower tax destination if they want to

By the way, the stuff about him being a tight wad, poor tipper, etc. are nonsense. If anything the opposite seems to be true.