Tax & entity planning for NIL & revenue-share athletes
Your NIL income needs a business plan, not just a return.
Deal money, revenue-share checks, and brand payouts are business income the moment they land — the entity you run it through decides how much of it you actually keep.
What changes once NIL income is real money
A $2,000 deal and a $200,000 season don't belong on the same tax plan. We build the plan for where the income actually is.
Self-employment tax adds up fast
NIL and revenue-share income reported on Schedule C carries the full 15.3% self-employment tax on top of income tax — an S-corp election can meaningfully cut that once income supports it.
Not every dollar should be "wages"
Inside an S-corp, only your reasonable compensation is subject to self-employment tax; the rest can be distributed. Setting that wage defensibly is the whole game — and where a lot of DIY setups get it wrong.
Parents and agents need to see the numbers too
We put together plans that are easy to walk through with a parent, agent, or financial advisor sitting in on the same call.
Why NIL income doesn't get the full 20% deduction automatically
NIL is a "specified service" business under the tax code
Personal-service income tied to your own name, image, and performance falls into the category the IRS calls an SSTB. Above certain income levels, that limits or phases out the Qualified Business Income deduction — unless the entity and compensation are structured with that phase-out in mind.
IRC §199A(d)(2) — the Specified Service Trade or Business rules.How it works
Book a planning call
We go through your deals, revenue-share income, and any existing entity — parents or agents are welcome on the call.
Get a written structure
A clear breakdown of whether an S-corp makes sense yet, a defensible wage number, and what it changes on your return.
File, from anywhere
Documents go through a secure portal, and your return — personal or entity — gets prepared and filed remotely.
Straightforward pricing
Start with a personal return, or go straight to entity setup once the income supports it.
Individual return
- Form 1040 with Schedule C for NIL income
- Self-employment tax review
- Secure portal, remote e-signature
S-corp / entity return
- S-corp entity return with wage/QBI analysis
- Reasonable-compensation documentation
- Quarterly estimate & retirement planning
Multi-year planning & wealth management
- Multi-year tax projection & entity roadmap
- Revenue-share & deal income modeling
- Retirement account strategy (Solo 401k, SEP-IRA)
- Wealth management coordination
- Ongoing advisory access
Questions athletes and families ask most
Usually not right away. Below a certain income level, the extra cost of running an entity — payroll, filings, bookkeeping — can outweigh the tax savings. We'll tell you plainly if it's not time yet.