The Athlete's Tax Playbook

The jock tax, residency, entities, and the deductions you are missing

A professional athlete has one of the most complicated tax situations in the country. You earn income in a dozen or more states in a single season, each wanting its cut. Your pay is a mix of salary, bonuses, endorsement money, and appearance fees, each taxed and sourced differently. Where you live is a tax decision worth more than most contracts. This guide lays out the moving parts and how they fit: the jock tax, the residency decision underneath everything, the entity and income-character questions that decide what you can deduct, and the planning that turns a chaotic filing into a controlled one.

“Taxes are not a once-a-year event. They are a structure you build, or pay for not building.”

Brandon Leopoldus, Esq.