Compliance

NIL Compliance Checklist

Answer a few questions and get a personalized action plan — school disclosures, tax setup, entity formation, and financial planning — tailored to your earnings. Download the full plan as a PDF.

Your details

Detected tier: Growing ($1,000 – $5,000)

Personalized for you
  • Tier: Growing — $1,000 – $5,000
  • State: not provided
  • School: your athletic department
  • Review this plan quarterly and every time a new deal is signed.
1. School & League Compliance
  • Register every NIL deal with your athletic department's NIL office before signing.
  • Confirm the deal does not violate NCAA pay-for-play or recruiting inducement rules.
  • Review your state NIL statute for disclosure timelines and prohibited categories.
  • Check team/conference restrictions on competing sponsor categories.
  • Keep signed contracts, W-9s, and payment records for at least 4 years.
2. Tax Setup
  • You are an independent contractor — NIL income is self-employment income, not a W-2 wage.
  • Complete a W-9 for every payer before receiving funds.
  • Track every payment; expect a 1099-NEC from any payer sending $600+.
  • Open a dedicated checking account for NIL income only.
  • File quarterly estimated taxes (Form 1040-ES) — April 15, June 15, Sept 15, Jan 15.
  • Use IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS to avoid underpayment penalties.
3. Recordkeeping
  • Log every deal: payer, date, gross amount, description, deliverables.
  • Save receipts for deductible expenses (equipment, travel, agent fees, training gear used for content, phone %).
  • Track mileage for NIL-related travel (appearances, shoots).
4. Financial Planning
  • Set aside 25–30% of every payment for federal + state + self-employment tax.
  • Build a 3-month emergency fund before any large purchase.
  • Avoid signing multi-year exclusivity deals without an attorney review.
  • Open a Roth IRA and contribute up to the annual limit ($7,000 in 2025).

Educational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify NIL rules with your school's compliance office and a licensed professional.