Agent and management fees
The percentage an agent or manager takes from paid deals is generally a business expense. Track it against the deal it came from.
Tax support for NIL brand deals
Brands pay you
to post.
The IRS wants a cut.
Sponsored posts, product partnerships, and the agent who negotiated them. We help student-athletes keep NIL deal money organized, review their costs, and get answers from a real tax expert.
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Every deal, on the books.From signed contract to sponsored post.
Built for sponsorship and brand income
$7,000+average client tax savings per year
40,000+tax returns prepared every year
Real accountantsbehind the guidance
50 statescovered by our tax team
Securetax and accounting infrastructure
One plan for every partnership
Your NIL deals,
handled like a pro.
Less stress about your first return.
More focus on your season.
Your first 15 days
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Real tax experts behind your planTrack every partnership
Cash deals, product deals, and the fees taken out of them, organized in one place.
Start your first return right
For many athletes, NIL is the first real tax situation. Build good habits from the first deal.
Ask a tax expert
Get straight answers about sponsor forms, agent fees, and what to set aside from each deal.
Stay ahead of payment dates
Brands don't withhold taxes, so reminders help you make estimated payments before they're late.
Possible deductions you could write off
Content deals have costs.
Make them count.
From the agent who lands the deal to the gear that films it,
brand work comes with costs worth reviewing.
Phone and content gear
Cameras, lights, and the business share of the phone you film sponsored posts on may be deductible.
Editing and scheduling apps
Apps you pay for to edit, caption, and schedule sponsored content are worth keeping receipts for.
Travel for paid shoots
Trips a brand requires you to take to create its content may count as business travel.
Wardrobe and props for deals
Items used only for paid content may qualify. Clothing you'd wear anyway, like team gear or everyday outfits, generally doesn't.
Tax and contract help
Paying a professional to review a deal or prepare your return can be an ordinary business cost.
NIL brand deals Tax Savings Calculator
Find potential savings from your NIL brand deals
Adjust your numbers
W-2 income changes the federal tax comparison on the right. The illustrative expense gap stays the same, and tax savings examples may stay flat when the applicable rates do not change.
$
Select an expense, then enter how much you spent on it this year.
7 ideas to review- The cut an agent or manager takes from paid deals.
- Cameras, lights, and the business share of your phone.
- Tools you pay for to make and post sponsored content.
- Trips required to deliver a brand's content.
- Items used only for paid content, not everyday wear.
- Professional help reviewing deals and filing.
- Have other costs for your 1099 work that are not listed? Add their total here for review.
Only amounts you enter affect the comparison. Check eligibility, business use, and records with a tax expert.
Potential expense gap to review to maximize savings
$—
compared with a category assumption
This potential write-off opportunity uses an illustrative category expense benchmark. Actual tax savings depend on what qualifies.
Enter your estimated 1099 income to see a potential expense gap.
Gross 1099 income$—
Illustrative category benchmark$—
Illustrative expense gap$—
$0$—
Entered: $—Unreviewed comparison: $—
Turn potential savings into a plan with 
Find the deductions you may be missing.
1099vibe helps you identify business write-offs, organize receipts and records, and get tax expert-informed guidance so you can keep more of what you earn.
How the estimate works and what it leaves out
The benchmark uses the midpoint of the category ranges supplied for this calculator. The featured expense gap is the benchmark minus entered review amounts, floored at zero. It is an illustrative comparison, not tax savings or proof that any additional costs exist. These are product assumptions, not IRS expense averages for individual occupations. A zero gap does not mean you have no deductible expenses.
The two supporting federal savings examples compare simplified 2026 federal income and self-employment tax before and after a hypothetical additional expense amount. That amount is the smaller of the remaining expense gap, 10% of gross 1099 income, and positive business profit after entered review amounts. Entered amounts are treated as qualifying solely for this illustration. The model uses the standard deduction, 2026 brackets, 92.35% net self-employment earnings, the 2026 Social Security wage base, Medicare tax, and a simplified additional Medicare tax. The two outcomes use a basic 20% qualified business income assumption and no QBI assumption. They are not bounds on actual savings. Your W-2 amount is treated as an approximation of both income-tax wages and Social Security wages; if those amounts differ, the result will change. For joint filers, the spouse W-2 amount affects household income tax and the additional Medicare threshold, but does not reduce your personal Social Security wage base.
This is not a full tax return. It does not calculate itemized deductions, credits, other income, the detailed qualified business income limits, alternative minimum tax, state tax, payroll details, business entity choice, or every special tax rule. Checked ideas without entered amounts do not affect the calculation. Entered costs still require documentation and eligibility review. Vehicle mileage and actual vehicle costs for the same vehicle cannot simply be added together. Some rental activity belongs on Schedule E and may not be subject to self-employment tax.
Sources: 2026 brackets and standard deduction, self-employment tax, 2026 Social Security wage base, qualified business income, and Schedule C instructions.
Let’s get your deals in order
Your game plan for NIL taxes.
Get your brand deal income organized.
Real support all season long.
Start your free trial
Create your account and gather your deal contracts, payment records, and any tax forms brands have sent you.
- Gather your deal records
- See what your plan includes
Meet with a tax expert
Walk through each deal, what your agent takes, and how much to set aside, even if this is your first return.
- Schedule your onboarding call
- Get an NIL-focused checkup
Stay compliant as you grow
Track new deals as they're signed, including where the work happened, so nothing surprises you at filing time.
- Track deals and fees
- Stay ready for quarterly payments
Give your NIL deals 15 days of real tax attention.
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Questions athletes ask about deals
Brand deal taxes,
explained for athletes.
Your sponsors, your posts,
and what to keep track of.
Is NIL brand deal money taxable?
Yes. NIL income is generally taxable. A brand or agency may send a 1099-NEC once it pays you $2,000 or more in 2026, but the income counts even when no form arrives.
A brand paid me in free products. Is that income?
Generally, yes. Products or services you receive in exchange for promoting a brand can count as income at their fair market value, just like cash. Keep a record of what you received and what it was worth.
Can I deduct the percentage my agent takes?
Agent and management fees on paid deals are generally deductible business expenses. Keep the agreement and statements that show what was taken from each deal.
I'm a student. Do I really need to make quarterly payments?
Student status doesn't change the rules. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS generally expects estimated payments, so set aside part of each deal when it pays.
Can 1099vibe help if I have deals in more than one state?
Yes. Deals tied to work in other states can create filing questions beyond your home state. Your tax expert can review where each deal happened and what that means for your returns.
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