I had never heard of Patriot News before. It was just the first article listed when I searched for “washington state recruiting of sports due to tax”. If I’m ever serious about a discussion here, I’ll make sure to vet the news source.
Also, as for other states having similar tax structures, I believe the comments by the coaching staff was how the new tax law put them on an even recruiting field with other states. I guess they were using their no state income tax as one more reason to play for them.
I wouldn’t think that the tax/no tax would influence a professional player.
Schultz does not make the big CEO salaries any longer - which would have brought more money to Washington state revenues. Now he lives off his interest and dividends from his stocks. While his move aligns with avoiding the tax, it was officially framed as a retirement move. Schultz still pays federal taxes on his income and dividends from his stock ownership in Starbucks
For decades, we imposed an annual tax on net wealth. The tax had deep historical roots: Introduced just before World War I as a temporary tax on the wealthy, it became permanent and lasted through Sweden’s high-tax postwar era. Yet after almost a century, Sweden abolished the tax in 2007. It did so not because Swedes had abandoned the welfare state but because the wealth tax had proved to be a poor instrument for financing it…
The revenue, meanwhile, was small. In research with Gunnar Du Rietz, I [Magnus Henrekson] found that Sweden’s wealth-tax revenue never exceeded 0.4% of GDP in the postwar period and amounted to only 0.16% of GDP (0.3% of total tax revenue) in 2006, the last year before repeal. That is a striking result. A tax that appeared symbolically powerful was fiscally marginal. It generated political conflict, administrative complexity, and economic distortions while contributing little to the financing of the Swedish welfare state.
Call it what you will, but the amount of revenue received by the government(s) varies with the tax rate. Common sense really. The shape of the curve is what is debated.
The seasonal travel patterns of the wealthy follow a synchronized, multi-generational calendar rooted in tradition, social networking, climate migration, and asset ownership (such as second or third homes). Rather than vacationing, the ultra-wealthy often “rotate residences” or follow a predictable global circuit: [1, 2, 3]
Winter (December – March): The Frost and the Festivities
The Holiday Pivot (Mid-December to Early January): The circuit traditionally kicks off with high-profile cultural events like Art Basel in Miami, leading immediately into an exodus toward ultra-exclusive Caribbean islands—chiefly St. Barths—where mega-yachts anchor for New Year’s Eve. Alternatively, others head to private-island buyouts in the Maldives or deep-wilderness private reserves. [1, 2]
The Alpine Migration (January – March): Wealthy ski enthusiasts transition directly from tropical or metropolitan galas to elite ski chalets. European hot spots like Courchevel (France), St. Moritz (Switzerland), and North American enclaves like Aspen and Telluride (Colorado) dominate, characterized by private aviation access, chalet-hotel buyouts, and private ski instructors. [1, 2, 3]
Spring (April – May): The Thaw and the Circuit
The Intermission & Equinox (April): A quieter shoulder window where the affluent retreat to legacy domestic estates (e.g., Palm Beach or incoming spring in the Hamptons/Ranches) or take brief exploratory trips before the European summer rush. [1]
The Riviera Calendar (May): Spring peaks with a sequence of high-visibility, high-networking events on the European coast. The Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix anchor the French Riviera circuit, serving as a blend of heavy-duty business networking, corporate hospitality, and social status display. [1, 2]
Summer (June – August): The Mediterranean Pivot & “Surf and Turf”
The Grand Migration to the Coast (June – August): The wealthy effectively relocate their lives to the Mediterranean or coastal U.S. Traditional mainstays include the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sardinia, and Mykonos. [1, 2]
Evolving Summer Trends:
“Surf and Turf”: Rather than staying static in one luxury hotel, a growing trend involves combining a week or two on a chartered superyacht with a secluded private villa or estate.
Avoiding Overtourism & Chasing the Cool: Due to extreme heat and heavy crowds in traditional Italian and French hotspots, many affluent travelers are pivoting toward “Italy-adjacent” value (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania) or shifting focus entirely to cooler northern climates like Norway and Iceland.
Privacy as the Ultimate Amenity: Demand has heavily shifted away from crowded marquee hotel strips toward fully-staffed private villas and island buyouts where access is strictly controlled. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Fall (September – November): The Shoulder Season Reversal
Fall is the New Summer: Data from luxury travel networks indicates a massive shift where the wealthy intentionally bypass peak summer crowds in favor of European autumns (e.g., wine harvesting in Burgundy, Tuscany, or private vineyard tours in South America). [1, 2]
“Forever Travel” and Reconnaissance: Autumn is frequently used for extended, slower-paced travel—living in a foreign region for weeks at a time to “test-drive” a potential new second-home location, evaluate international schools for children, or scope out real estate investments. [1]
Yes, but revenue by the government also varies by more than just the tax rate.
For example, in February 2024, the IRS announced it was sending notices to over 125,000 people who hadn’t filed a return, including more than 25,000 who earned over $1 million.
Not much happened due to lack of enforcement.
So it seems that spending money on qualified IRS auditors would generate considerable revenue, far outweighing the cost of the auditors.
Yet some officials think we can save money by firing IRS auditors.