49ers DL Arik Armstead discloses how he loses 50% of his $393,055 game check in taxes

California State cuts around 49% from players' salaries who are based in the state.

49ers DL Arik Armstead discloses how he loses 50% of his $393,055 game check in taxes

Arik Armstead (Image via IMAGO)

If anyone wondered what an NFL player’s paycheck looks like, Arik Armstead has that covered. The San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman shared a few TikTok clips of his salary.

Armstead signed a 5-year, $85 million deal with the Bay Area franchise back in 2020. It’s a regular balance sheet that most players would receive, but the striking thing about it was the tax cuts.

YouTube video

He released a couple of TikTok videos documenting how much he earned over a period of time. It showed that Armstead’s original earnings were $393,055, but after taxes, he only had $194,085 in his hands. That’s a massive drop of 49.3%, which went straight to the California government. On Friday, Darren Rovell shared a screenshot from the clips, and it went viral in moments.

While there were a few who sympathized with the 29-year-old, it also attracted a lot of heat from the online community. Armstead had to react and later released a statement to clear the air.

I’m not here to flex on anybody. I’ve been extremely blessed in my life, and I work hard. This isn’t to flex on anybody. It's just so people can understand how it works in the NFL.

Arik Armstead is not the only NFL player to voice discontent regarding state taxes

Every state in the USA has its own specified taxes. Since Arik Armstead and the San Francisco 49ers players are based in California, they have to pay the highest taxes compared to any other state. As per Balance, the Golden State boasts the highest tax income rate at 13.3%.

49ers DL Arik Armstead discloses how he loses 50% of his $393,055 game check in taxes
Arik Armstead (Image via 49ers webzone)

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Players have to pay something called the “jock tax.” For the layman, it is the income tax that the state charges non-residents who come for only work purposes.

So if Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins goes to play at Levi’s Stadium, some of his matchday earnings will go to pay California Tax. In contrast, Florida doesn’t have the same policy. The star wide receiver recently revealed that he was eyeing a move to the Jets when the Chiefs decided to release him. However, New York’s 10.9% tax rate made him change his mind.

New York Jets was close to happening last season. But those state taxes, man! I had to make a grown-up decision.
Tyreek Hill on ‘I am athlete’

If Hill had gone to the Jets, then his tax cuts would have looked like this in 2022: State income tax (Jock Tax included), he would have lost around $3,191,968. He saved more than $2.5 million last year by choosing the Dolphins.

Taxes do play a large part in any citizen’s life. From the collection, the government gives back facilities to the people.

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