Tiger Woods, an Orange County native who played at Seal Beach's Navy Golf Course as a youth, told a crowd on Tuesday that he moved out of California to escape the state's high taxes.
Speaking Tuesday at the Torrey Pines Golf Club, Woods sympathized with colleague Phil Mickelson, who recently landed in hot water for his critique of the state's newly passed tax law. Woods told the crowd he moved out of California in 1996 because of high taxes.
“Well, I moved out of here back in ‘96 for that reason,” Woods said in response to a question from a reporter in advance of the Farmers Insurance Open. “I enjoy Florida, but also I understand what he was, I think, trying to say. I think he’ll probably explain it better and in a little more detail.”
Woods has bagged more than $100 million in prize money during his career, according to Forbes magazine.
On Wednesday, Mickelson plans to discuss the issue that landed him in hot water, following his pro-am round at Torrey Pines. The San Diego native apologized Monday, saying he regretted airing his opinion.
Mickelson, who lives in Rancho Santa Fe, said he might move out of California to avoid Proposition 30 state income tax increases on people earning more than $250,000 a year. Individuals earning $500,000 or more, or couples filing jointly and declaring income of more than $1 million, will pay 3 percent more than before.
Including federal taxes, Mickelson said “62, 63 percent” of his income was going to the government. He cited financial issues as part of the reason he did not join the Padres’ new ownership group.
The first round of the Farmers Insurance Open is set for Thursday, with Woods and Mickelson leading the field.
Do you think the tax rate is fair? Do you sympathize with people in higher tax brackets who are thinking of moving to greener pastures?
—City News Service
Those men who went to college for 14 years to learn how to drill holes into people's skulls and remove tumors are the ones who are overpaid!! The should have their salaries reduced by half - while the pro-golfers who are showered with love and adoration should get huge salary increases and be allowed to wear the crown of Kings while engaging in their pro competitions overlooking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!!! I'm with ya, Marianne G.!!!!
Do you know if he was Kobe's neighbor? They seem to have a lot in common. That's why I ask. " I'm guessing he had a meeting with his CPA and learned the extent of the CA, US, ObamaCare and CapGain tax increases and was caught off guard." I'm sorry. I give more credit to Phil and to his CPA than that. Even before Prop 30 and ObamaCare he was getting gouged, compared to people in the same income bracket who live in states with no income tax. You want me to believe that Phil had no idea how much he has been paying in CA taxes. And I simply refuse. My guess is that Phil and his family have very close family ties and friendships in CA and did not want to sever those by moving to another state and spending their time there. Plus, the kids would get uprooted and be forced to attend other schools. So I think Phil made a decision to stick by California for familial reasons. Now, I agree that with the new taxes that Phil had given full consideration to uproot his family and change their entire life surroundings and habits due to the higher tax gouging that his income will surely experience. If I were in Phil's shoes I would have moved from CA many years ago. But then, I like broccoli and he probably doesn't. Now, I follow incentives. Always have. And since I intend to stay in CA I am looking for some way to climb aboard the 'free cheese train'. I want some free stuff too!
50% to the federal government - $500,000 13% to the Calif state government - $130,000 Net income - $370,000 If you live in Florida and make $1 million you pay: 50% to the federal government - $500,000 0%% to the Calif state government - $0 Net income - $500,000 So if you live in Florida you net income (take home) is 26% greater than if you live in California! How many of you would like a 26% raise?
We are now into "3rd generation welfare families". There are recipients who have never worked a day in their lives. Their mothers never worked and received welfare. Their grandmothers too. Three generations, expanding exponentially. We only have to look to Britain and Europe to see where we are heading... Another example: I recently received a call from a long ago business associate. Had not heard from him for over two decades. He had developed a bad drug problem. Eventually became a heroin addict and moved out of state. Said he heard the benefits for drug addicts in Calif are much better than most states. It took 2.5 years for him to be legally classified a "disabled addict". As of Sept, 2012 he receives $1,986.00 per month. Plus free medical, legal, and other assistance. AND he received a check for over $40,000 to cover what they felt he was entitled to during the 2.5 years it took for him to get approved. He says there are 'counselors' and attorneys that teach him and others how "to game the system". That is part of why California had to raise the state income tax 30%!
Who wouldn't want to keep as much money as they can from THEIR earnings!!! Last I checked this is still a democracy and not a socialist society - but we're getting close!
I foresee California eventually trying to do the same thing by manipulating and misinterpreting the intention of our State Constitution. When wealthy people LEAVE they will force them to hand over a certain percentage of their net worth. Don' t laugh, Marianne. They passed the Patriot Act. And they passed NDAA which confiscated some really important civil liberties related to due process. If they did those things it would be incredibly easy to impose an 'exit tax' on citizens trying to escape exploitation and forms of fascism.
JW, California has 12% of the nation's population and 33% of the nation's welfare population. Why do you think that is, JW? Might it be because poor people go to the state that gives them the most free stuff for the least amount of effort? I have always followed inventives, JW. All my life. If I am incentivized to work I work my butt off. If I am incentivized to sit back and take it easy. I will do that as well. The incentive NOW in California is to live off the work of other people. How do you think that will work out, JW?
California residents, businesses consider bailing on Golden State over taxes http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/23/california-residents-businesses-consider-bailing-on-golden-state-over-taxes/ Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/23/california-residents-businesses-consider-bailing-on-golden-state-over-taxes/#ixzz2IpSVeIYB
Florida is a nice place and it does work out well for him since he takes his yacht to the Bahamas a lot since he is a avid diver. Not to many places to park 125 foot yachts in SOCAL.
More people voted for Democrats in the House of Reps, but because of successful gerrymandering by the GOP run State Houses in 2010 the way the people voted doesn't really count. Add in the various attempts at reducing the vote, like voter ID laws that are designed to stop voter fraud, which doesn't exist, and you have one side that wants people to vote, and one side that doesn't. If you don't believe me, just look at what Virginia did this week. They waited until they had a one vote majority while one of the members was off at the inauguration and they voted a gerrymandered redistricting plan in to ensure that at the next election they would have a majority even if they got less total votes. One side wants the government to run and represent the people, one side doesn't want the people to be fairly represented and games the system. The latest gaming? Now that they have gerrymandered the districts they want to change the electoral college representation to one per district and two state wide rather than winner take all. This way winning the state isn't winning the oval office. Seems they can't win when every vote is counted, so they want to change the rules. Consider that the next time you vote. One side wants your vote to count, the other side only wants to win at any cost.
And for all of this we all pay taxes. The better you do, the more disposable income you have, the more you should pay. Why? Because you got there with a great deal of help, most from the government. I am starting a business. The government helped me by allowing me to protect my product with a patent so I would have a chance to develop it and bring it to market. When I hire a programmer, he was educated at schools paid for by my tax dollars. When I sell my product it will be across lines developed by the government (DARPA). I owe taxes so that the next guy will have the same chances as I.
Oh, the "takers". - Gotchya. Do you, like Ryan, include all those who have worked and paid into Social Security and are now collecting? How about those that worked and paid into Medicare? And since when did Dwight D Eisenhower become a socialist? You know, the guy who was President when top tax rates were over 90%. The guy who used that income to build the Interstate Highway System. One that created millions of working class jobs and made even more people taxpayers. A guy who "took from the rich" and created jobs for the poor. A regular Socialist Robin Hood. There was once a time when a good part of the GOP was called Progressive Republicans, but that was before the days of the "Me generation" where it's all about me and mine, and survival of the fittest. Greed isn't good. It sort of sucks. It lifts one boat, but leaves all the others in worse shape.
<sarcasm> Yep, if he wasn't there then no one would host the tourney and all those people would be unemployed and the... OH NO! You mean they would host the Tourney's even if he didn't show up? Lordy, Lordy! </sarcasm>