Which of the following statements is most correct?

a$.$

A lump sum received by a former employee in consideration of the former employee not competing with their former employer for

a period of five years will be ordinary income.

b$.$

A payment received by an employee where the payment reflects back$-$pay of wages for a prior period worked will not be

assessable as ordinary income.

c$.$

A person can agree with their employer to give up part of their remuneration that they would otherwise receive in return for the

employer providing them with non$-$cash benefits.

d$.$

A lump sum payment received by a person from a book publisher for the sale of the copyright in their first book will always be

assessable as ordinary income.

e$.$

A regular payment received by a person from a book publisher for royalties earned on sales of the person's first book will not be

ordinary income.