31 related entities that include a partnership, Velvet Horn, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1981-227 (rental payments from controlled corporation to controlled partnership). To be deductible under section 162(a)(1), compensation must be both: (1) Reasonable and (2) paid "purely for services" rendered to the business. Sec. 1.162-7(a), Income Tax Regs. According to section 1.162-7(a), Income Tax Regs., any amount paid in the form of compensation, but not in fact as the purchase price of services, is not deductible. Sec. 1.162- 7(b)(1), Income Tax Regs. In addition, contingent compensation invites close scrutiny as a possible distribution of earnings of the enterprise. Sec. 1.162-7(b)(2), Income Tax Regs. If a contingent compensation arrangement turns out to generate payments greater than the amounts that would ordinarily be paid as compensation, those payments are generally deductible only if they are paid pursuant to a free bargain between the employer and the individual made before the services are rendered and not influenced by any consideration on the part of the employer other than that of securing the services of the individual on fair and advantageous terms. Id. Finally, the allowance for the compensation may not exceed what is reasonable under all the circumstances. Sec. 1.162-7(b)(3), Income Tax Regs. Bonuses paid to employees are deductible only when made in good faith and as additional compensation for services actually rendered by the employees, provided that when added to thePage: Previous 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Next
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