FOOD FOR THOUGHT

‘Tis the season of giving! But if you’re planning to give your clients and/or employees a present this year, you should temper your generosity of spirit with the correct tax treatment of gifts for employees. After all, you wouldn’t want the IRD to put you on its naughty list… 

From our experience, many businesses consistently fail to give Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) the attention it deserves; a decision that will inevitably hurt business profitability. The correct treatment of FBT is a strategic issue that business leaders are ultimately responsible for. Following a recent review, the Tax Department has made clear its intentions to crack-down on incorrect FBT compliance.

Many businesses will soon be starting to assess all the non-cash benefits provided to employees to determine whether or not Fringe Benefit Tax needs to be accounted for in their March quarter FBT return (due before 31 May). Graham Lawrence provides a useful guide to Fringe Benefit Tax to help businesses avoid making mistakes that could hurt profitability.