Will Other Commissions Go After State Taxes?
Posted by: Honky Tonk Man on 02/10/2005

This tax thing could get ugly for the wrestlers who do not pay the state taxes. On every wrestling license application there is a point blank question, "Have you ever had a license suspended or revoked by another state?" Most commissioners are up to date on the goings on in the business especially when something like this comes up. They will be well aware of the names on the list when they look over the application for a license in their state. This could create a major problem if the commissions become hard asses and get someone for lying on the application or calling you in front of the commission to explain why you were suspended in another state. They could just not issue a license at all. Mind you there are only a few commissions around who control wrestling. The ones I know of are: MO, VA, WA, ME, NV, OK, NM, KY, MD, AR ,LA, MS, DC, there could be more I can't come up with them now.

I would venture to say most of the wrestlers do not pay any state taxes except where they live if that state has an income tax. I say this because they did not pay in Missouri, then they did not pay too many other places either. This is an issue that has been around wrestling for decades. New York is a good example. The wrestlers all know to pay NY taxes. There have been a few guys popped by NY and after the audit the wrestlers were turned over to the Feds who popped them again. WWE sends every wrestler a stack of 1099's with the states broken down individually so they can file the state income tax. If they don't file, it is not WWe's problem.

HTM's take on this: If your name is on that list you better have your ducks lined up in a row and you better have some good record keeping for the last three years. You might get a good tax attorney and a legit CPA who understands entertainment accounting. Looks like Missouri is not going to play games and other commissions with state income taxes are going to follow suit.

Till we meet again,
Adios

P.S.
When I see "Oh Brother" Shawn Michaels' name on the list, it makes me wonder how a man of God could be such a hypocrite and a sinner when it comes to being honest with himself and his fellow man. I guess you will say, "I fight my demons everyday, somedays the demons win and somedays the Lord wins." I suppose the day you filed your taxes the demons won. The states need these tax dollars and it is not like you can't afford it. You are on a $750 grand contract. Do you really need to skate the state out of its tax dollars? Dollars that help with human and social services for those who are in need. What kind of Oh Brother are you?

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