Small Benefit Exemption Scheme

Small Benefit Exemption Scheme

December 15, 2016

Businessman is pressing button on touch screen interface and selecting "Tax free". Business concept.

 

Reward your employees with up to €500 tax free under the “Small Benefit Exemption Scheme”

Are you looking to reward your employees with a bonus this Christmas?

Did you know under the existing Benefit-in-Kind arrangement, an employer can provide an employee with a single “non-cash” benefit up to €500 without it being subject to PAYE, USC and PRSI.

“This is effectively a saving to an employer of up to €700

 Conditions:

  • The treatment does not apply to cash payments, which are taxable in full.
  • No more than one such benefit given to an employee in a tax year will qualify for such treatment.
  • If more than one benefit is given in a tax year only the first benefit will qualify under the Small Benefit Exemption Scheme, even if it is less than €500.
  • The maximum value for this benefit is €500 (up from €250 since 22nd October 2015).
  • Where a benefit exceeds €500 in value the full value of the benefit is to be subjected to PAYE, USC and PRSI.
  • The benefit cannot form part of a “salary sacrifice” scheme.

 

For more information about this please feel free to contact me using the details to your right.