Instructionsfor Form 1125-E - Introductory Material Future Developments Whats New Limitations on compensation. General Instructions Purpose of Form Who Must File Definitions and Special Rules Total Receipts Golden Parachute Payments Disallowance of Deduction for Employee Compensation in Excess of $1 Million Limitations on tax benefits for executive compensation under the Treasury Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Specific Instructions Line 1 Column (b). Column (f). Line 3 Line 4 Instructionsfor Form 1125-E - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. Instructions for Form 1125-E (10/2018) Compensation of Officers Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Revised: 10/2018 Instructions for Form 1125-E - Introductory Material Future Developments For the latest information about developments related to Form 1125-E and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, visit IRS.gov/Form1125E. What’s New Limitations on compensation. For tax years beginning after 2017, for purposes of the deduction for employee compensation in excess of $1 million, the definition of "covered employee" has changed. Other special rules also apply. See Disallowance of Deduction for Employee Compensation in Excess of $1 Million, later. General Instructions Purpose of Form Certain entities with total receipts of $500,000 or more use Form 1125-E to provide a detailed report of the deduction for compensation of officers. Who Must File Form 1125-E must be completed and attached to Form 1120, 1120-C, 1120-F, 1120-RIC, 1120-REIT, or 1120S, if the entity has total receipts (defined below) of $500,000 or more, and deducts compensation for officers. Definitions and Special Rules Total Receipts For purposes of Form 1125-E, total receipts are determined as follows. Form 1120, page 1, line 1a, plus lines 4 through 10. Form 1120-C, page 1, line 1a, plus lines 4 through 9. Form 1120-F, Section II, line 1a, plus lines 4 through 10. Form 1120-RIC, Part I, line 8, plus net capital gain from Part II, line 1, and Form 2438, line 9a. Form 1120-REIT, Part I, line 8, plus net capital gain from Part III, line 10, and Form 2438, line 9a. Form 1120S, page 1, line 1a, plus lines 4 and 5; income reported on Schedule K, lines 3a, 4, 5a, and 6; income or net gain reported on Schedule K, lines 7, 8a, 9, and 10; and income or net gain reported on Form 8825, lines 2, 19, and 20a. For more information on total receipts, see the instructions for the applicable entity’s return. Golden Parachute Payments A portion of the payments made by a corporation to key personnel that exceeds their usual compensation may not be deductible. This occurs when the corporation has an agreement (golden parachute) with these key employees to pay them these excess amounts if control of the corporation changes. See section 280G and Regulations section 1.280G-1. Disallowance of Deduction for Employee Compensation in Excess of $1 Million Publicly held corporations cannot deduct compensation to a "covered employee" to the extent that the compensation exceeds $1 million. Generally, a covered employee is: The principal executive officer or principle financial officer of the corporation (or an individual acting in that capacity) at any time during the tax year; An employee whose total compensation must be reported to shareholders under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 because the employee is among the three highest compensated officers for that tax year (other than the principal executive officer or principal financial officer, or an individual acting in that capacity); or A covered employee of the corporation (or any predecessor) for any preceding tax year beginning after December 31, 2016. For this purpose, compensation does not include the following. Income from certain employee trusts, annuity plans, or pensions. Any benefit paid to an employee that is excluded from the employee's income. The following also apply. The deduction limit does not apply to income payable under a written, binding contract in effect on February 17, 1993. The $1 million limit is reduced by amounts disallowed as excess parachute payments under section 280G. Special rules apply to binding written contracts in effect on November 2, 2017, and which were not materially modified on or after that date. See section 162(m), as modified by P.L. 115-97. Limitations on tax benefits for executive compensation under the Treasury Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The $1 million compensation limit is reduced to $500,000 for executive remuneration and deferred deduction executive remuneration paid to covered executives by any entity that receives or has received financial assistance under TARP. The limit applies for each period in which obligations arising from financial assistance under TARP remain outstanding. The $500,000 is reduced by any amounts disallowed as excess parachute payments. See section 162(m)(5) for definitions and other special rules. Also see Notice 2008-94, 2008-44 I.R.B. 1070, for additional guidance. In addition, any excess parachute payments made to a covered executive by an applicable employer participating in a Treasury TARP are not deductible as compensation if the payments are made because of a severance from employment during an applicable tax year. For this purpose, a parachute payment is any payment to a senior executive officer for departure from a company for any reason, except for payments for services performed or benefits accrued. These limits do not apply to a payment already treated as a parachute payment. See section 280G(e) and Notice 2008-94. Specific Instructions Line 1 Complete columns (a) through (f) for all officers. A corporation determines who is an officer under the laws of the state/country where it is incorporated. If a consolidated return is filed, this information must be furnished for each officer of the affiliated group. However, the common parent of a consolidated group may file, as part of its consolidated return, one Form 1125-E on behalf of the members of the affiliated group. Column (b). Enter each officer's social security number (SSN) in column (b). Filers may elect to provide only the last four digits of the officer's SSN. Column (f). Enter each officer's total deductible compensation (such as salaries, commissions, bonuses, taxable fringe benefits, etc.). For officers of an S corporation, include fringe benefits and expenditures made on behalf of officers owning more than 2% of the corporation's stock. Do not include amounts paid or incurred for fringe benefits of officers owning 2% or less of an S corporation's stock. These amounts are reported elsewhere on the corporation's return. See the Instructions for Form 1120S for more information on deductible officers’ compensation. Line 3 Enter compensation of officers deductible elsewhere on the return, such as amounts included in cost of goods sold, elective contributions to a section 401(k) cash or deferred arrangement, or amounts contributed under a salary reduction SEP agreement or a SIMPLE IRA plan. If the corporation claims a credit for any wages paid or incurred, it may need to reduce its deduction for officers’ compensation. See section 280C. If the corporation provided taxable fringe benefits to its officers, such as personal use of a car, do not deduct as wages the amount allocated for depreciation and other expenses claimed elsewhere on the return. Line 4 Enter the amount from line 4 on Form 1120, page 1, line 12, or the appropriate line of the applicable return. See the instructions for the applicable entity's return. Instructions for Form 1125-E - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax. You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103. The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated burden for business taxpayers filing this form is approved under OMB control number 1545-0123 and is included in the estimates shown in the instructions for their business income tax return. If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for the tax return with which this form is filed.
