Final answer:
A real estate salesperson may only directly receive compensation from their sponsoring broker, not from the buyer or seller, complying with state laws and regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A real estate salesperson may directly receive compensation from only one of the following parties, according to most state laws and regulations. The correct answer is: their sponsoring broker. Real estate agents are typically engaged as independent contractors under a real estate broker, and it is this broker who is responsible for paying the agent for transactions completed. Compensation from the seller or buyer usually goes directly to the broker who then distributes the agreed-upon commission to the salesperson.