Which of the following is NOT considered a deduction for corporate taxable income?

Dividends paid to shareholders are classified differently from expenses that a corporation incurs in the course of operations. While salaries, interest on business loans, and depreciation expenses directly relate to the operational costs of running a business, dividends represent a distribution of profits to shareholders.

In the context of corporate taxable income, only the expenses that a corporation pays to operate and generate revenue can be deducted to reduce taxable income. Dividends, on the other hand, are paid from after-tax profits and do not qualify as a business expense; they are a return on investment to shareholders and are not deductible from corporate taxable income. This distinction is crucial for understanding corporate taxation and the various components that affect taxable income.