When it comes to attracting and retaining the top talent in your industry, businesses seem to have no choice but to get creative with their benefits packages. This practice of providing 额外福利s is especially common when we talk about jobs in the technology industry, which expanded 31 percent faster than other high-growth sectors 2004年- 2014年. Leading the pack when it comes to 额外福利s in the tech sector are Google, Facebook and Twitter, companies that continue to woo prospective employees with perks such as free food, 按摩, fitness centers and game rooms and, 在很大程度上, 它们是免税的.
Have you been considering new ways to increase the quality and quantity of your talent pool? Offering 额外福利s may provide you with the leverage you need to stand out among your competition. 让我们来一探究竟 出版方案, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits, which is a helpful tool for employers who are looking to learn more about the treatment various kinds of 额外福利s will receive at tax time.
What Is A Fringe Benefit?
一般来说， 额外福利 is a form of payment given to a person in exchange for the performance of services. This benefit can be provided by you (the employer) to any person (not necessarily an employee) who is performing services for your business, which means independent contractors and partners, 例如, are also eligible to receive 额外福利s.
Are Fringe Benefits Taxable?
All 额外福利s provided by your business are taxable and must be included in your recipients pay unless the law specifically excludes it. Further guidance on how to determine the taxable inclusion amounts is found in 出版方案. 话虽如此, 现金, 现金 equivalents and gift cards are generally considered taxable and are not included on the exclusion list below.
What Types Of Fringe Benefits Are Specifically Excluded And Non-Taxable?
(This is not an extensive list.)
- 成就奖—— Employees like being recognized for their length of service or safety achievements. While recognition/awards that take the form 现金, 现金 equivalents and gift certificates are taxable, employers can reward employees with tangible personal property under this exclusion. Note: Depending on the type of the award, dollar limits may apply.
- 〇运动设施 If you maintain an on-site athletic facility that is exclusively used by your employees, your employees’ spouses and their dependent children, value of this benefit is not required to be included in your employee’s wages.
- De Minimis Fringe Benefits – De minimis 额外福利s are “perks” that are considered to have very little value – so much so that accounting for a benefit of this size would be considered unreasonable or administratively impractical. Common examples of de minimis 额外福利s include:
- Occasional personal use of company copying machine
- Holiday gifts, with a low market value
- Occasional tickets to the theater or a sporting event
- Occasional parties and picnics for employees and their guests
- 〇职员优惠 这个附加福利, while subject to limitations, implies that an employer can offer employees a discount for property or services, as long as it is provided to your customers as well.
- Employer-Provided Cell Phones – Many employers provide cell phones for non-compensatory business reasons. Personal use of an employer provided cell phone is excludable from an employee’s income.
- 餐
- 最低限度的膳食 咖啡, 甜甜圈, soft drinks and meals that help to enable employees to work for longer periods of time are not taxable.
- 餐 on your business premises – 餐 that are provided to employees on your company’s property, that are made available for convenience (facts and circumstances) are excludable.
- Food service employees – 餐 provided to food service employees during or immediately before or after the employee’s shift are also excludable.
注意: 期待看到更多 国税局的指导 forthcoming regarding meals as they fine tune the “employer’s convenience” guidance. With all the attention Google and Facebook have garnered for their employee meals the IRS has made meal 额外福利s a priority initiative.
电子邮件的意图 & 比较靠谱的赌博软件 to learn more about what tactics are available to help you attract the talent you need while helping you keep your tax bill down.
Check out this article for more tips and tax strategies to help you save extra money at tax time!