U.S. Olympians may not have to pay federal taxes on winnings they bring home this year from Rio.

The IRS can collect thousands of dollars as income from prize money attached to for gold, silver and bronze medals.

The U.S. Olympic Committee gives athletes $25,000 for gold medals, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

In July the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to prevent the IRS from taxing prizes and awards won in Olympic or Paralympic games.

The House of Representatives still has to weigh the legislation.

"To really do our part to help reward these athletes is something that really resonates with a lot of Americans," said Brady Wilson at Americans for Tax Reform.

With Congress in recess, the bill is not likely to become law before the torch is extinguished at the summer games.

It contains a clause to retroactively keep the IRS from taxing winnings from Rio.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor and AJC Publisher Andrew Morse were joined by AJC editors and Atlanta business react during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Midtown on Friday, January 24, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Atlanta firefighters, crash on Piedmont Avenue at Monroe Drive

Credit: Ben Hendren