Final Regs Issued on $1 million pay limit

Final Regs Issued on $1 million pay limit The Internal Revenue Service has issued final regulations on I.R.C. §162(m) in Treas. Reg. §1.162-27. These regulations make clear what was permitted under temporary regulations (with certain modifications) and now yields more certainty in the area of planning executive pay by public companies. Background. I.R.C. §162 allows a deduction for trade or business expenses. I.R.C. §162(m) limits the deduction that a public corporation may take for payment of compensation to the principal officer and three highest paid employees to $1 million. However, pay that is performance based is exempt if certain criteria are met. I.R.C. §162(m)(4)(C) and Treas. Reg. §1.162-27(e)(2)) We now have permanent regulations further defining the terms and issues. A discussion of the rules is beyond the scope of a blog. Suffice it to say that anyone seeking to be paid more than $1 million ought to have competent legal advice and any company seeking to pay more than $1,000,000 ought to have competent legal advice.