The bill boosts after-tax pay and simplifies tax rules for Olympic and Paralympic athletes—encouraging competition—at the cost of reduced federal revenue and a targeted tax preference for a small, elite group.
Olympic and Paralympic athletes will keep the value of medals and prize money tax-free for awards received after Dec 31, 2025, increasing their after-tax earnings.
Elite athletes face a smaller financial penalty for winning (which can encourage continued participation and investment in sport careers).
Removes a complex income limitation and simplifies the tax treatment of Olympic/Paralympic awards, easing compliance for recipients and tax preparers.
Federal tax revenue will be reduced because the previously taxable value of medals and prize money will be excluded, which could increase budgetary pressure.
Creates a tax preference for a small, elite group (Olympic/Paralympic athletes) that may be perceived as unfair compared with other award recipients who remain taxable.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes the income cap so Olympic/Paralympic medals and USOC prize money are excluded from federal gross income for awards received after Dec 31, 2025.
Introduced February 26, 2026 by Michelle Fischbach · Last progress February 26, 2026
Removes the income cap so that the value of any medal or prize money awarded by the United States Olympic Committee for Olympic or Paralympic competition is excluded from federal gross income without regard to the recipient's other income. The exclusion applies to medals and prize money received after December 31, 2025.