Swift and Kelce Can Act Now to Shield Fortunes From the Taxman

Robert F. Mancuso writes in Bloomberg Tax on the news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement — "Make no mistake—this isn’t just a marriage. It’s a merger."

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's engagement poses an array of legal and tax complications. Photographer: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

For most people, the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is a love story. But it’s also a case study in how two enormously successful individuals join not just their lives, but their financial empires.

Unless both Swift and Kelce plan for the merger of their respective business empires, there may be an uninvited guest who crashes the wedding ceremony: the taxman. And unlike the typical party crasher who leaves after the ceremony is concluded, the taxman can wreak havoc on their lives for many years to come.

Make no mistake—this isn’t just a marriage. It’s a merger. Swift brings a billion-dollar brand empire built on her music, catalog, and likeness. Kelce brings multimillion-dollar NFL contracts, endorsement deals and a rising media profile. And when two “companies” merge, you don’t just plan a wedding. You plan for taxes…

Read the Full Column on Bloomberg Tax >

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