Rules Update.

The House settlement. A federal court gave final approval on June 6, 2025. It lets opted-in Division I schools pay athletes directly, on a ten-year term. Parts remain on appeal, and revenue sharing continues while they do. Books: Book One.

The revenue-sharing cap. Revenue sharing began July 1, 2025. Each opted-in school has an annual per-school cap, about $21.58 million for 2026-27 (the scheduled increase plus a revenue-audit adjustment), up from about $20.5 million the first year. The cap is recalculated each year. Books: Book One.

Who opted in. Schools in the five defendant conferences are in automatically. Other Division I schools chose whether to opt in, and may opt in in later years. Books: Book One.

Roster limits. For opted-in schools, per-sport scholarship caps are gone, replaced by roster limits. Football's roster limit is 105. This remains a live appeal issue as of September 2026. Books: Book One.

NIL Go and the $600 threshold. NIL Go is the clearinghouse for third-party NIL deals. As of September 2026, a Division I athlete reports each deal of $600 or more, counted per source, within five business days of agreeing to terms. The College Sports Commission sets this rule. Books: The Starting Line; Book One; Book Two.

The two NIL Go tests. Every third-party deal must have a valid business purpose. Deals with a collective or an associated entity also face a range-of-compensation test. Ordinary outside-brand deals do not face the second test. Books: Book One; Book Two.

NIL Go and the cap are separate systems. NIL Go reviews third-party NIL deals. A school's revenue-share and cap reporting run on a separate system (CAPS). The College Sports Commission oversees both. Books: Book Two.

Appeals of a flagged deal. As of September 2026, a flagged deal can be revised, canceled, or appealed to a neutral, binding arbitrator. Books: Book Two.

Federal law. As of September 2026, there is no federal NIL statute. A Senate bill cleared committee without a floor vote, a House bill stalled, and executive orders issued instead. Books: Book One.

Employment status. Whether college athletes are employees under federal wage law is undecided. A 2024 appeals ruling let the claims proceed, and the case is back in the district court. The answer shapes how revenue-share pay is reported for tax. Books: Book One; Book Three.

International athletes on F-1 visas. As of September 2026, no federal agency has authorized active NIL work for F-1 student-athletes. In-U.S. NIL work is generally not permitted on an F-1 visa. This is a matter for an immigration attorney, case by case. Books: Book One.

What Florida high school NIL allows. FHSAA Bylaw 9.9 lets an athlete at a member school earn from name, image and likeness. Permitted activities include endorsements, appearances, social media, and product or service advertising. The edition confirmed here is the 2024-25 handbook. Books: The Starting Line.

The written contract, ending at graduation. An NIL agreement is a fully signed, written contract. It cannot extend past the athlete's high school graduation date. Signing it releases the school, the district and the FHSAA. Books: The Starting Line.

Prohibited categories. No NIL deal may involve adult entertainment; alcohol, tobacco, vaping or nicotine; cannabis; controlled substances; prescription drugs; gambling; weapons, firearms or ammunition; political or social activism; or NIL collectives. School-sanctioned team fundraising is not a collective. Books: The Starting Line.

School and association marks. Paid NIL may not use a school, FHSAA or NFHS uniform, logo, mascot or honors without prior written consent. Consent is recorded in Section B of Form GA1. Books: The Starting Line.

The GA1 affidavit. After signing, the student and a parent or guardian file Form GA1 with the school within five business days. Both signatures are required. Its full title is the Affidavit of Compliance with the Regulations on Amateurism and Interscholastic Athletic Eligibility. Books: The Starting Line.

Transfers. A student who transfers after a sport has started generally may not sign an NIL deal that season, absent a Bylaw 9.3.2.2 exception. Books: The Starting Line.

Penalties. A first violation brings a warning, a second a year of ineligibility, a third the rest of the athlete's high school career. Falsified information or an impermissible benefit carries its own ineligibility. Books: The Starting Line.

Agents for a high school athlete. Under Bylaw 9.9, a registered agent may advise a high school athlete only on NIL matters. Hiring an agent to manage an athletic career may affect amateur status. Books: The Starting Line.

The 1099-NEC threshold. For payments made in 2026, a business sends a Form 1099-NEC once it pays $2,000 or more for services in a year. Payments made in 2025 used $600. The $2,000 figure is indexed for inflation starting in 2027. Income is taxable whether or not a form arrives. Books: The Starting Line; Book One; Book Two.

The 1099-K threshold. A payment app or online marketplace reports on Form 1099-K only when payments exceed $20,000 and transactions exceed 200, both. This older threshold was permanently restored. Card processing is always reported. Books: Book Two.

Self-employment tax and the wage base. NIL income is generally self-employment income. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of most net earnings. For 2026, the 12.4% Social Security portion applies up to $184,500; the 2.9% Medicare portion has no ceiling. Books: The Starting Line; Book One; Book Two.

Estimated tax due dates for 2026. Unwithheld income is generally paid in four installments: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Estimated payments are generally expected when the year's balance owed would reach $1,000 or more. Books: Book One; Book Two.

The 2026 standard deduction. For 2026 the single standard deduction is $16,100. A dependent's standard deduction is the greater of $1,350 or earned income plus $450, capped at $16,100. Books: The Starting Line; Book One.

Kiddie tax for 2026. The kiddie tax reaches only a child's unearned income, such as interest and dividends, over $2,700 for 2026. NIL is earned income, so it is not kiddie-taxed. Books: The Starting Line; Book Three.

Revenue-share reporting is unresolved. As of September 2026, no federal ruling settles whether a school reports direct revenue-sharing pay as W-2 wages or on a 1099. The money is taxable, with no withholding unless it is treated as wages. Books: Book One; Book Three.

The IRA contribution limit. For 2026 the IRA limit is $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 and older. Contributions require earned income, and NIL self-employment earnings count. Books: Book Three.

The 529 K-12 limit. As of 2026, up to $20,000 a year per beneficiary can go from a 529 toward K-12 costs, up from $10,000, and qualifying K-12 expenses now reach beyond tuition. This is a 2025-law change, with IRS guidance still catching up. Books: The Starting Line; Book One.

Trump accounts. A 2025 federal law created a new tax-deferred account for children under 18. A $1,000 federal pilot deposit is available for eligible children born 2025 through 2028. The annual contribution limit is $5,000, and accounts cannot be funded before July 4, 2026. The governing rules are still proposed. Books: Book One.

FAFSA 2027-28 timing and treatment. The 2027-28 FAFSA is expected around October 1, 2026 and uses 2025 income. A student's NIL earnings are student income, assessed at the higher student rate, so a large NIL year shows up two years later. Books: Book One.

Bright Futures thresholds. Bright Futures is merit-based, so NIL income does not affect eligibility. For 2026-27 graduates the top award requires, among other things, a 3.50 weighted GPA and set test scores, with the Florida Financial Aid Application due by August 31 after graduation. Thresholds rise for 2027-28 graduates. Books: The Starting Line.

The FTC fake-reviews rule. As of September 2026, 16 CFR Part 465 (effective October 21, 2024) bans fake or AI-written reviews, reviews bought on the condition of a positive rating, undisclosed insider reviews, and buying or selling fake followers, views or engagement. Books: Book Two.

Florida LLC fees. As of 2026, forming a Florida LLC costs $125. The annual report is $138.75, due by May 1. Filing late adds a $400 penalty, for $538.75. Nonfilers are administratively dissolved in September. Books: Book Two.

The USPTO trademark fee. A federal trademark application costs a few hundred dollars per class of goods or services. A $350-per-class base fee took effect January 18, 2025. Confirm the current figure before filing. Books: Book Two.

Disability and loss-of-value coverage. A disability policy for a pro prospect pays on permanent total disability before pro earnings begin. Loss-of-value coverage pays on a documented drop in draft value while the athlete can still play. Terms and premiums vary, and there is no regulator definition of loss-of-value. Books: Book Three.

NCAA insurance and premium help. The NCAA-facilitated ESDI program serves a small number of elite prospects. Schools may help with premiums through the NCAA Student Assistance Fund, which is permitted, not guaranteed. An athlete may borrow against future earnings to buy coverage without losing eligibility. This area is in flux after the House settlement. Books: Book Three.

Workplace plan limits for 2026. For 2026, an employee can defer up to $24,500 into a 401(k), 403(b) or most 457 plans. The age-50 catch-up is $8,000, and $11,250 at ages 60 through 63. Books: Book Three.

SEP and Solo 401(k) limits for 2026. For 2026, a SEP IRA or a Solo 401(k) is capped at $72,000. A self-employed athlete with NIL income may use either. The exact contribution math depends on the individual's facts. Books: Book Three.

The current I bond rate. As of September 2026, the I bond composite rate is 4.26% for bonds issued May 1 through October 31, 2026, with a 0.90% fixed rate. The rate resets every six months, next on November 1, 2026. The annual purchase limit is $10,000 per person. Books: Book Three.

The latest inflation reading. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending August 2026; core CPI rose 2.4%. This figure changes every month. Books: Book Three.

Private placements and accredited investors. As of September 2026, "exclusive" offers are often private placements open only to accredited investors: income over $200,000, or $300,000 with a spouse, in each of the last two years, or net worth over $1 million excluding a home. A Form D filing is not SEC approval. The accredited-investor definition can be amended by SEC rulemaking. Books: Book Three.

NCAA odds of going pro. In NCAA 2024-25 research, the estimated NCAA-to-major-pro share is about 1.0% in men's basketball, 0.8% in women's basketball, 1.4% in football, 4.9% in baseball, and 7.5% in men's ice hockey. The NCAA updates these figures each year. Books: Book Three.