What sports expenses can I deduct?

[sportsmom1]

If my son received a sports grant and uses the money to attend tournaments can he deduct the airplane tickets, tournament registration fees, and equipment (racquet stringing, replacement sports wheels for wheelchair, etc).

[RobertB4444]

A grant is not business income.  And, if being used for the qualified expenses that it was granted for, may not be taxable at all.  Here's an article on grants.  You may be able to just leave this one off.

@sportsmom1 

[sportsmom1]

They gave him a 1099-NEC and they don't request itemized receipts from him like a grant normally would. He is getting money as part of a player development program. So maybe it is not a grant? He just uses the money (+ more of our own) to play the sport so we would be able to itemize all his expenses and deduct but I think he still has to file as self-employed because of the 1099-NEC, correct? Then can we deduct the expenses I asked about. I'm sorry I'm not more clear but this is all new to me.

[RobertB4444 · Accepted solution]

Yes, the 1099-NEC indicates that it is not a grant and is self-employment income.  He will file a schedule C on his tax return, report all of the income on the 1099-NEC as what he earned and then anything that he had to spend money on in order to earn the income is deductible.  All the sports equipment, entry fees, travel expenses, etc.

@sportsmom1