Oklahoma Woman Claims Bass Pro Shops Uses Aquariums as Tax Loophole
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A viral TikTok video is raising eyebrows after a woman claimed Bass Pro Shops avoids paying most federal taxes by classifying itself as a museum, thanks to its massive in-store aquariums.
Viral TikTok Sparks Debate
Content creator Kelly (@frankandash) posted a video that has now been viewed more than 370,000 times, arguing that Bass Pro’s aquariums aren’t just for show — they may serve a financial purpose.
“This is your reminder that Bass Pro Shops doesn’t pay (most) federal taxes because they call themselves a museum because of their aquarium,” she said in the clip, later adding: “Eat the rich.”
Her claims, first reported by BroBible, highlight growing frustrations about how corporations exploit tax loopholes unavailable to everyday workers.
Other Retailers Have Tried Similar Tactics
The aquarium loophole isn’t unique to Bass Pro Shops. Earlier this year, a Florida jewelry store was criticized after advertising itself as the “Boca Aquarium.” Families who visited discovered it was little more than a few fish tanks tucked inside a luxury jewelry shop.
According to Boca Magazine, the jeweler leaned into the controversy, even posting mocking videos of its critics while allegedly using the aquarium classification for tax advantages.
Bass Pro’s History of Tax Incentives
Beyond the aquarium debate, Bass Pro Shops has long benefited from public subsidies. A Bloomberg investigation found that from 1997 to 2012, the company received roughly $1.3 billion in state and local support, often through deals where cities borrowed money to build its stores and repaid the debt with sales or property taxes.
Critics argue that these stores, marketed as tourist attractions, mostly draw local shoppers and fail to deliver promised economic growth. In some cases, cities such as Olathe, Kansas, and Independence, Missouri were left covering millions in missed bond payments after sales revenues fell short.
Public Reaction
The viral video sparked a wave of online reactions.
“So let’s build museums in our home so we don’t pay taxes!!!!!!” one commenter joked.
Another user wrote, “Corporate overlords are evil.”
Others pointed out the irony, calling Bass Pro Shops “the world’s smallest museum attached to the world’s largest gift shop.”
As one commenter put it:
“Don’t hate the player. Hate the game.”
Do you think large corporations like Bass Pro Shops should be allowed to use aquariums and exhibits to qualify for tax exemptions? Join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
