Athletes use pass-through entities like LLCs and S-corps to slash self-employment taxes on business income from endorsements, NIL deals, and ventures by designating "reasonable salaries" subject to 15.3% FICA while distributing residuals tax-free.
S-Corp Election Mechanics
LLCs elect S-status via IRS Form 2553, paying owners modest salaries ($70K-$150K on $1M profits) via payroll covering Social Security/Medicare while profits above flow as K-1 distributions exempt from SE tax. For a $150K NIL income, this saves $12K+ annually versus a sole proprietorship, with PTET states deducting entity-level payments federally to bypass $10K SALT caps.
Family offices enforce "reasonable compensation" via comparables to dodge IRS recharacterization, routing the athlete's yacht charter costs through the entity as deductible business development.
Deduction Maximization
Pass-through status enables ordinary deductions, agent fees (10-20%), training facilities, and marketing directly against gross receipts, unlike W-2 wages facing limits. BVI subsidiaries hold offshore assets, repatriating via loans at 20-30% savings while scaling 10-15% residuals to syndications yielding 11-13% IRR.
Multi-entity stacks, one LLC per brand, cleanly allocate embedding wealth protection for athletes through liability silos.
Compliance and Scaling
Quarterly 1120-S filings and payroll remit seamlessly via fiduciary teams, with annual audits migrating to dynasty trusts holding membership interests. Durant's structure blends this with NIL deals and wealth planning for QSBS ramps and 90%+ partner retention.
Outcomes deliver 15-25% efficiency: pass-throughs turn peaks into operator moats, proving UHNW command beyond primes.
Read: Why athletes should separate personal income from business income
