Medieval Attractions N.V - Page 143

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          the corporation, that shareholder did not change the percentage             
          once he obtained control.                                                   
               In reaching our conclusion, we considered that, “Though the            
          officers were also shareholders of the petitioner, they are                 
          entitled to reasonable compensation for services actually                   
          rendered."  Good Chevrolet v. Commissioner, supra (citing                   
          Commercial Iron Works v. Commissioner, 166 F.2d 221, 224 (5th               
          Cir. 1948)).  Contingent compensation paid pursuant to a free               
          bargain between the parties before services are rendered should             
          be allowed as a deduction even though in the actual working out             
          of the contract it may prove to be greater than the amount that             
          would ordinarily be paid.  Sec. 1.162-7(b)(3), Income Tax Regs.             
          The arrangement also may result in lesser compensation in less              
          successful years.  Finally, we noted “this is not a case in which           
          the controlling officers annually draw all, or virtually all, of            
          the profits of the business in the form of bonuses."  Good                  
          Chevrolet v. Commissioner, supra; cf. Boyle Fuel Co. v.                     
          Commissioner, 53 T.C. 162, 171 (1969); see Owensby & Kritikos,              
          Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1985-267, affd. 819 F.2d 1315              
          (5th Cir. 1987) (the contracts did not create a situation where             
          virtually all of the taxable income was paid out as                         
          compensation).  We concluded that compensation paid to                      
          shareholder-employees constituting approximately 60 percent of              
          net income was reasonable.  Good Chevrolet v. Commissioner,                 
          supra.                                                                      




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