Arkansas Passes Legislation to Allow NIL Payments to Go Tax-Free ---- Higher education institutions in Arkansas just received game-changing news regarding the student-athlete recruitment business. In a successful attempt to balance the scales, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law that all name, image and likeness payments from Jan. 1, 2025 to the present day will be exempt from taxation. Arkansas is the first state in the United States to pass such a law, giving all student-athletes that reside in the state a huge advantage compared to other athletes. Without state income taxes, schools in Arkansas can make incredible pitches to athletes, potentially grabbing some of the major names in college athletics. Specifically, income earned through revenue-sharing funds and NIL deals will be exempt from state income taxes. This benefits both the universities and the student-athletes. Along with the new financial stipulations, all information regarding deals will be confidential ...