Physician Shareholder’s $2 Million Bonus Considered Unreasonable

An eye care center, a corporation with five surgeons, paid a $2 million bonus to its sole shareholder and medical director, a surgeon who had to increase his workload significantly when one of the other surgeons quit unexpectedly and another began working fewer hours. Although the corporation deducted the entire amount as a business expense, the IRS disallowed $1 million and assessed an accuracy-related penalty of $62,000, contending that half of the bonus was a disguised dividend rather than bonus compensation. The Tax Court agreed, upholding the tax deficiency and penalty because the corporation failed to provide any evidence of comparable salaries or the methodology to show how the bonus was determined in relation to the shareholder’s responsibilities to support its position that the amount was reasonable. Midwest Eye Center, S.C., T.C. Memo 2015-53 (Tax Ct.).

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Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.