Reasonable Compensation Analysis

income statement and financial report

Protect Your Clients—and Yourself—with a Defensible, IRS-Compliant Report

S Corporation owners are required by the IRS to pay themselves a “reasonable salary” before taking shareholder distributions—but determining what’s truly “reasonable” isn’t always clear. If you're preparing returns for S-Corp clients, you need more than a guess or an internet estimate. You need documented support.

Our Reasonable Compensation Analysis service helps tax professionals and business owners defend their compensation decisions with data-driven confidence. Backed by trusted methodologies and unbiased labor market data, our reports are aligned with IRS standards and built to withstand audit scrutiny.

Why Tax Preparers Need This Report

If you sign off on a salary that the IRS deems unreasonable, you—not just your client—can be penalized. In fact, preparer penalties can reach $5,000 per client, per year. The IRS has no obligation to accept your client’s explanation or preferences; they want proof that you did your due diligence.

To date, no preparer using our analysis reports has been penalized. Our documentation gives you a defensible position based on objective data and IRS-accepted methodologies, protecting your professional reputation and your bottom line.

Why Clients Are at Risk Without Documentation

Even if your client’s salary seems fair, the IRS may challenge it if there’s no formal basis for the number. In an audit, perception isn’t protection. With a professional analysis, your client can demonstrate that their compensation figure was calculated using unbiased data—not guesswork or outdated references.

Why Internet Tools Fall Short

Free salary tools and online calculators don’t meet IRS defensibility standards. Many rely on user-submitted data, lack transparency, and don’t use approved methodologies. Our reports follow the Cost, Market, and Income approaches—the same methods used by IRS examiners. Plus, our platform includes access to methodology documentation to further strengthen your audit defense.

Ready to Strengthen Your Filing Position?

Don’t rely on assumptions when the IRS demands proof. Get the documentation you and your clients need to stay protected.

Eliminate guesswork. Reduce audit risk. Defend your return with confidence.