College football country seeks key tax exemption for athletes to enhance recruitment, boost team continuity

Lawmakers across the Deep South are rallying behind legislation that would exempt student-athletes’ name-image-likeness (NIL) income from taxation. Whether their fans are cheering for the Crimson Tide, the War Eagles, the Dawgs, or Texas, Fight!, the push for tax relief on NIL income is gaining momentum.

In Alabama, GOP state Rep. Joe Lovvorn has introduced a bill that would exempt NIL income from the state’s income tax. Lovvorn believes that this move will help boost recruitment for schools in the state and level the playing field for colleges in states without an income tax. With Georgia also working on similar legislation, Lovvorn sees the importance of getting Alabama on board.

Georgia state Sen. Brandon Beach, a proud Dawgs fan, is leading the charge for NIL tax relief in his state. He believes that the current landscape of college football is like the Wild, Wild West and that guardrails need to be put in place to ensure fairness for student-athletes. Beach also pointed out that SEC schools in states without income tax have an advantage in recruiting top athletes.

The issue of taxation on NIL income has also been a factor in player transfers. Beach cited the case of college quarterback Carson Beck transferring from Georgia to Miami, citing the tax advantages in Florida as a driving factor. He believes that standardizing tax relief for NIL income at the federal level is necessary to ensure fairness across all states.

Former Auburn coach and current Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville echoed the need for uniformity in tax treatment of NIL income. He emphasized the importance of college sports in training future Olympians and called for legislative clarity before the upcoming games in Los Angeles. Tuberville has been working with Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz to address the issue at the federal level.

Overall, lawmakers in the Deep South are united in their efforts to provide tax relief for student-athletes’ NIL income. They believe that this move will benefit schools, athletes, and the future of college sports. With bipartisan support and a focus on fairness and competitiveness, the push for NIL tax relief is gaining traction in the region.