IRS Eyes Sports Team Owners Reaping Big Tax Benefits

Sports team owners for decades have seen enormous tax benefits from their team purchases, dispatching squads of accountants to find write-offs on things from equipment and player salaries to TV rights and more. Now the IRS is looking to make sure all of those savings were above board. The IRS's Large Business and International Division announced the audit campaign last month, making sure the income and deductions taken by sports-related partnerships with large losses are reported in compliance with the tax code. The campaign comes as sports deals continue to reach new heights and the volume of deals remains hot, Robert Raiola, director of the Sports and Entertainment Group at PKF O’Connor Davies, told Bloomberg Tax, adding that rising values are attracting wealthy buyers and investment firms are getting in on the action. On this episode of Talking Tax, Bloomberg Tax reporter Caleb Harshberger spoke with Raiola about how owners have made the most of tax benefits for team ownership and what the new audits could mean for the world of sports. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.