Jeff Bezos claims he's moving to Florida to spend more time with his family. Who believes that?

American Thinker ^ | 11/15/2023 | Monica Showalter

[SeekAndFind]

After shucking his wife for a newer model, Washington Post and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos threw a big engagement party for himself in Beverly Hills, invited hordes of Hollywood stars such as Barbra Streisand, and now tells the press he's now moving to Florida to ... spend more time with his family.

According to USA Today:

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's engagement party in Beverly Hills was a swanky affair attended by a who's who of Hollywood.

Vogue reported that the party was held at designer Diane von Furstenberg and businessman Barry Diller's home in Beverly Hills. The magazine took exclusive photos of the soirée, showing celebs like Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek and Kris Jenner rubbing elbows with the couple.

“They’re very in love with each other — they’re demonstrably in love,” Diller told Vogue. “She’s lit him up in the nicest ways. She’s a great stimulant.”

Just livin' a 'normal life,' he said. Fox News had some tart commentary on that here.

 

Jeff Bezos' fiancée insists 'our lives are pretty normal' in glowing piece about $200K dresses, trips to space https://t.co/3cebs1agAw — Fox News (@FoxNews) November 14, 2023

 

But buried deeper in the story, there was this:

Earlier this month, Bezos announced that he and Sánchez would be moving to Florida. He said he wanted to live in Miami to be closer to his parents and the Cape Canaveral operations of Blue Origin, his space exploration company.

"I've lived in Seattle longer than I have lived anywhere else," Bezos wrote in an Instagram post. "As exciting as the move is, it's an emotional decision for me. Seattle, you will always have a place in my heart."

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Washington state has no income tax, which is enshrined in our state Constitution.

Neither does Florida. Bezos is moving to Miami.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the taxes in each city (question answered by Google’s Bard GPT) :

Miami, Florida

State income tax: 0%
State sales tax: 0%
Local sales tax: 7%
Property tax: 1% of assessed value

Seattle, Washington

State income tax: 0% - 9.9% (Seattle has a progressive income tax system, which means that the tax rate increases as your income increases. The specific tax rate that you pay depends on your taxable income, which is your total income minus certain deductions and exemptions.)

State sales tax: 6.5%
Local sales tax: 1%
Property tax: 1% of assessed value

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"California"? He lived in Seattle. That's in Washington State.

He doesn't worry about "tax brackets" -- those apply to income tax. He has minimal income compared to his capital gains from selling stock. So he wants to minimize capital gains taxes. So you have this...

FAQ: Understanding who will pay Washington’s new capital gains tax and potential exemptions
By Nate Beck, March 30, 2023

The legality of a capital gains tax was upheld by the Washington state Supreme Court last week, drawing questions about who is subject to the tax and the broader impact on the region’s business sector.

Seattle tech leaders had mixed reactions to the ruling. Advocates say it’s one way that Washington’s regressive tax laws can be altered to help low-income and rural communities. Opponents fear it will drive businesses out of the state.

Washington is one of nine states with no personal income tax; it generates most of its revenue through sales, property, and business and occupation (B&O) taxes.

An estimated 7,000 households — the wealthiest in the state — are estimated to be affected by the capital gains tax law.

The tax, which will help fund early-childhood education programs and school construction, is drawing national attention. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board wrote that Democrats will use the judicial ruling to “redefine other income taxes as excise taxes.”

The law imposes a 7% tax on capital gains of more than $250,000 from the sale of stocks, bonds, and other assets.

The tax applies to gains made on or after January 2022 and the first payment is due on or before April 18 of this year [2023]. It’s paid on a calendar year basis. It affects individuals, not business entities (with some exceptions, as noted below).

Note it is RETROACTIVE to January 2022!

A 7% tax on a (say) billion dollar stock sale is a pretty chunk of change. Yet this skunk is denying those needy people and young pupils in Washington state (where he lived for decades and got rich) the benefit of his tax money. What a hypocritical liberal hypocrite.

[ridesthemiles]

SAFER? CHECK

CHEAPER? CHECK

BETTER TAX LAWS? CHECK

BETTER DIVORCE LAWS? DON’T KNOW

[ridesthemiles]

ALSO-—MANY MORE PLACES TO PARK YOUR YACHT

[ridesthemiles]

CHUMP CHANGE FOR BEZOS

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"...something that fake and extreme would be a turn OFF."

I'm a guy and yes, I can confirm that.

[bruoz]

Property tax: 1% of assessed value

He paid $150 million for two adjoining properties. That may be as much as $1.5 million a year. As a life-long Floridian I say thank you, Jeff.

[zeestephen]

Re: "Seattle has a progressive income tax system"

Really?

Someone better explain that to Turbo Tax.

I have been filing electronically for the last 25 years, and Turbo Tax has never mentioned that I owe income tax to Seattle or Washington state.

9.9% used to be the total sales tax in Seattle.

I think it is 11% now.

There is also a business revenue tax for businesses that are NOT engaged in retail sales.

[Fireone]

...and, historically, one of the best real estate investments of a lifetime.
Also, less headache that owning an NFL team.

[Flint]

He’ll get one of those 18 million dollar estates/golf course like President Trump has.

[CaptainK]

“BETTER DIVORCE LAWS? DON’T KNOW”

She’s got the big rock on her finger. However, I’m betting he’ll drag his feet and that wedding date will be a long way off.

[minnesota_bound]

Steroids and plastic together.