27 Million Reasons to Leave New York

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 11-07-09 | The Wall Street Journal Editorial Staff

[GOP_Lady]

Julian Robertson wins one for taxpayers.

For every Sunbelt refugee who has tried to leave high tax bills behind in the cold Northeast, Julian Robertson scored a victory this week. By proving that he was outside New York City for half the days in the year 2000, the former hedge-fund titan avoided $27 million in city taxes, thanks to a ruling by New York's tax court.

No thanks are due the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, which had ruled he was a resident and therefore liable for the multimillion-dollar tab. In the upside-down world of tax law, where citizens are guilty until they can prove their whereabouts, it's a rare taxpayer victory.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

It’s a shame the rich don’t want to pay their fair share. Doesn’t this person know that $27,000,000 allows nearly 1,800 NYC residents to sit on their ass, cry poverty and continue to vote (D)? /sarcasm

[GeronL]

Good for him.

They said no to Jeter? He can provide videotape and photographs of his away games and trips and they still said no?

[Condor51]

$27 Million in NY CITY Taxes?

They're insane.
Give NYC back to the squeegee men, porn shop owners, pimps, gangs, thugs and rapists lurking in Central Park.

Let Bloomie tax them.

[Two Kids' Dad]

They’ll keep this up until every wealthy resident moves to New Jersey and commutes in to work.

Screw New York City!

[Tzimisce]

Coming soon to a national government near you. :)

[truthguy]

If officials in NYC keep this up, all the progress that's been made since Giuliani become mayor will be lost. Are NY Officials and residents smart enough to realize this? I doubt it. Most of the types who work for the city and the Tax Boards never heard of or read the fable of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. They are ideologues who believe it's a privilege to live in NYC and civilization cannot exist elsewhere. They are fools and the damage they will cause will be immense.

[Cicero]

I have a friend who formerly resided on Long Island, and others who formerly resided in New Jersey. They have moved to Florida as primary residence.

They both told me that they had to relinquish their EZ passes, because apparently the tax departments of those states take them as proof of residency.

Just driving through on their way to Maine would be enough to bring the wrath of the tax departments down on their heads.

[Between the Lines]

In Charlotte they are considering a city income tax on those who live outside the city yet commute to work there.

[GeronL]

And if that happens the jobs that are left will follow their workers.