Opinion
No. 13769.
Argued February 3, 1970.
Decided February 6, 1970.
Newman A. Townsend, Jr., Raleigh, N.C. (Thomas L. Norris, Jr., and Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield Townsend, Raleigh, N.C., on brief) for appellant.
Carolyn R. Just, Atty., Dept. of Justice (Johnnie M. Walters, Asst. Atty. Gen., Meyer Rothwacks and Loring Post, Attys., Dept. of Justice, and Robert H. Cowen, U.S. Atty., on brief) for appellee.
Before BRYAN, WINTER and CRAVEN, Circuit Judges.
This appeal presents the single question of the time of deductibility by an employer of amounts it accrued to pay "sick benefits" to its employees — the date of accrual or the date of payment to the employee. The district judge, after full trial, found the latter date. On review, we find no factual or legal error. We affirm on the opinion of the district judge. Lundy Packing Company v. United States, 302 F. Supp. 182 (E.D.N.C. 1969).
While benefits to employees were denominated "sick benefits," they were paid not only for sickness but also in the event of retirement, death or termination of employment. As a consequence, the "sick pay plan" was treated by IRS and the district court as being, in part, a deferred compensation plan so that the deductibility of amounts accrued thereunder was governed by § 404 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, rather than § 162.
Affirmed.