Labelgraphics, Inc. - Page 16

                                       - 16 -                                         

          personal services actually rendered".  A two-prong test                     
          determines deductibility:  (1) Whether the amount of compensation           
          is reasonable in relation to services performed, and (2) whether            
          the payment is in fact purely for services rendered.  Sec. 1.162-           
          7(a), Income Tax Regs.  More specifically, bonuses paid to                  
          employees are deductible "when * * * made in good faith and as              
          additional compensation for the services actually rendered by the           
          employees, provided such payments, when added to the stipulated             
          salaries, do not exceed a reasonable compensation for the                   
          services rendered."  Sec. 1.162-9, Income Tax Regs.  Generally,             
          courts have focused on the reasonableness requirement in                    
          determining the deductibility of purported compensation.                    
          Elliotts, Inc. v. Commissioner, 716 F.2d 1241, 1243-1244 (9th               
          Cir. 1983), revg. and remanding T.C. Memo. 1980-282.                        
               The reasonableness of compensation is a question of fact to            
          be answered by considering and weighing all facts and                       
          circumstances of the particular case.  Pacific Grains, Inc. v.              
          Commissioner, 399 F.2d 603, 605 (9th Cir. 1968), affg. T.C. Memo.           
          1967-7; Estate of Wallace v. Commissioner, 95 T.C. 525, 553                 
          (1990), affd. 965 F.2d 1038 (11th Cir. 1992).  Petitioner has the           
          burden of showing that it is entitled to a compensation deduction           
          larger than that allowed by respondent.  Rule 142(a); Nor-Cal               
          Adjusters v. Commissioner, 503 F.2d 359, 361 (9th Cir. 1974),               
          affg. T.C. Memo. 1971-200.                                                  
               Case law has provided an extensive list of factors that are            



Page:  Previous  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011