Deferred Compensation Plan	9 Months Ended
Oct. 27, 2012
Deferred Compensation Plan	NOTE 9. Deferred Compensation Plan In August 2006, we adopted the Hot Topic Inc. Management Deferred Compensation Plan, or the Deferred Compensation Plan, for the purpose of providing highly compensated employees and members of our Board a program to meet their financial planning needs. The Deferred Compensation Plan provides participants with the opportunity to defer up to 80% of their base salary and up to 100% of their annual earned bonus, or, in the case of members of our Board, 100% of their earned cash fees, all of which, together with the associated investment returns, are 100% vested from the outset. The Deferred Compensation Plan, which is designed to be exempt from most provisions of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, is informally funded by us in order to preserve the tax-deferred savings advantages of a non-qualified plan. As such, all deferrals and associated earnings are general unsecured obligations of Hot Topic, Inc. held within a “rabbi trust” on our consolidated balance sheet. We may at our discretion contribute certain amounts to eligible employees’ accounts. In January 2009, to the extent participants were ineligible to receive such contributions from participation in our 401(k) Plan, we began to contribute 50% of the first 4% of participants’ eligible contributions into their Deferred Compensation Plan accounts. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, assets and associated liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan were each $4.9 million, and are included in other non-current assets and non-current liabilities, respectively, in our consolidated balance sheets. As of the end of fiscal 2011, assets and associated liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan were $4.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan

9 Months Ended

Oct. 27, 2012

NOTE 9. Deferred Compensation Plan

In August 2006, we adopted the Hot Topic Inc. Management Deferred Compensation Plan, or the Deferred Compensation Plan, for the purpose of providing highly compensated employees and members of our Board a program to meet their financial planning needs. The Deferred Compensation Plan provides participants with the opportunity to defer up to 80% of their base salary and up to 100% of their annual earned bonus, or, in the case of members of our Board, 100% of their earned cash fees, all of which, together with the associated investment returns, are 100% vested from the outset. The Deferred Compensation Plan, which is designed to be exempt from most provisions of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, is informally funded by us in order to preserve the tax-deferred savings advantages of a non-qualified plan. As such, all deferrals and associated earnings are general unsecured obligations of Hot Topic, Inc. held within a “rabbi trust” on our consolidated balance sheet. We may at our discretion contribute certain amounts to eligible employees’ accounts. In January 2009, to the extent participants were ineligible to receive such contributions from participation in our 401(k) Plan, we began to contribute 50% of the first 4% of participants’ eligible contributions into their Deferred Compensation Plan accounts. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, assets and associated liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan were each $4.9 million, and are included in other non-current assets and non-current liabilities, respectively, in our consolidated balance sheets. As of the end of fiscal 2011, assets and associated liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan were $4.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for compensation costs, including compensated absences accruals, compensated absences liability, deferred compensation arrangements and income statement compensation items. Deferred compensation arrangements may include a description of an arrangement with an individual employee, which is generally an employment contract between the entity and a selected officer or key employee containing a promise by the employer to pay certain amounts at designated future dates, usually including a period after retirement, upon compliance with stipulated requirements. This type of arrangement is distinguished from broader based employee benefit plans as it is usually tailored to the employee. Disclosure also typically includes the amount of related compensation expense recognized during the reporting period, the number of shares (units) issued during the period under such arrangements, and the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the related liability.

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