Employee Christmas Parties and Gifts – Any FBT?

With the Christmas break almost upon us, many employers and businesses will be planning to reward employees with a celebratory party or event. However, you should be aware of the possible Fringe Benefits Tax and income tax implications of providing ‘entertainment’ (including Christmas parties) to employees and clients.

FBT AND ENTERTAINMENT

Under the FBT Act, employers must choose how they calculate their FBT entertainment liability and most use either the ‘actual method’ or the ’50/50 method’.

ACTUAL METHOD

Entertainment costs are normally split up between employees (and their family) and non-employees (e.g. clients and suppliers). Expenditure on employees is deductible and liable to FBT. Expenditure on non-employees is not liable to FBT, not tax deductible and no GST claimable.

50/50 METHOD

Rather than apportion entertainment expenditure on the basis of actual attendance by employees, etc., many employers choose to use the more simple 50/50 method. Under this method (irrespective of where the party is held or who attends) – 50% of the total expenditure is subject to FBT and 50% is tax deductible. However, the following traps must be considered:

even if the function is held on the employer’s premises – food and drink provided to employees is not exempt from FBT;
the minor benefit exemption* cannot apply; and
the general taxi travel exemption (for travel to or from the employer’s premises) cannot apply.

**(*) MINOR BENEFIT EXEMPTION**

The minor benefit exemption provides an exemption from FBT for most benefits of ‘less than $300’ which are provided to employees (and their family/associates) and which are infrequent and irregular. The ATO accepts that different benefits provided at, or about, the same time (such as a Christmas party and gift) are not added together when applying this threshold.
However, entertainment expenditure that is FBT exempt is also not Tax deductible and no GST claimable.

NOTE: ‘less than’ $300 means ‘no more than $299.99’. A $300 gift to an employee will be caught for FBT, whereas a $299 gift can be exempt.

EXAMPLE: CHRISTMAS PARTY

An employer holds a Christmas party for employees and their spouses – 40 attendees in all. The cost of food and drink per person is $250, and no other benefits are provided.

If the actual method is used:

For all 40 employees and their spouses – no FBT is payable (i.e., applying the minor benefit exemption), however, the expenditure is not tax deductible and no GST claimable.

If the 50/50 method is used:

Expenditure is $10,000 and 50% (i.e., $5,000) is liable to FBT and tax deductible.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

With the holiday season approaching, many employers and businesses want to reward their employees and loyal clients/customers/suppliers… so let’s look at how gifts to employees and clients are handled “tax-wise”.

GIFTS WHICH ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE ENTERTAINMENT

These generally include, for example, a Christmas hamper, a bottle of whisky or wine, gift vouchers, a bottle of perfume, flowers, a pen set, etc.
Briefly, the general FBT and income tax consequences for these gifts are as follows:

gifts to employees and family members – are liable to FBT (except where the ‘less than $300’ minor benefit exemption applies) and tax deductible; and
gifts to clients, suppliers, etc. – no FBT, and tax deductible.

GIFTS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ENTERTAINMENT

These generally include, for example, tickets to attend a theatre, live play, sporting event, movie or the like, a holiday airline ticket, or an admission ticket to an amusement centre.
Briefly, the general FBT and income tax consequences for these gifts are as follows:

gifts to employees and family members – are liable to FBT (except where the ‘less than $300’ minor benefit exemption applies) and tax deductible; and
gifts to clients, suppliers, etc. –no FBT, not tax deductible and no GST claimable

NON-ENTERTAINMENT GIFTS AT FUNCTIONS

What if a Christmas party is held at a restaurant at a cost of less than $300 for each person attending, and employees with spouses are given a gift or a gift voucher (for their spouse) to the value of $150?

Under the actual method, for employees attending with their spouses: no FBT is payable because the cost of each separate benefit (including the gift) is less than $300 (i.e., the benefits are not aggregated). No deduction is allowed for the food and drink, but the gift is tax deductible.

Where the 50/50 method is adopted:

50% of the total cost of food and drink is liable to FBT and tax deductible; and
the total cost of all gifts is not liable to FBT because the individual cost of each gift is less than $300.

As the gifts are not entertainment, the cost is tax deductible.

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