Are Holiday Gifts Taxable?

We hate to be a Scrooge, but have you ever considered the potential tax implications of your holiday gift giving? During the holiday season many employees can expect to receive something extra from their employer, whether by way of a cash bonus, a non-monetary gift or even an annual holiday party. And, it’s certainly possible to structure such extras in a way that doesn’t attract the unwanted attention of the taxman. To do so, however, a little advance planning is required.

Holiday gifts made to customers are generally deductible as business expenses as long as the taxpayer can demonstrate that such gifts are for customer goodwill. Such gifts must bear a direct relationship to the taxpayer’s business and must be made with a reasonable expectation of a financial return relative to the amount of the gift. However, the $25 annual limitation per recipient on deductibility is applicable to holiday gifts, unless a statutory exceptions applies.

Holiday turkeys and other holiday distributions of nominal value made by an employer to employees to promote goodwill are treated as tax-free gifts to those employees instead of taxable compensation. If the employer gives cash, gift certificates or similar items of readily convertible cash value, however, the value of those gifts is considered additional compensation regardless of the amount. But if holiday gift certificates given by an employer to its employees are redeemable only for merchandise and were not convertible to cash, they may be considered tax-free gifts.

Employers can give items worth a “nominal amount” without fear that the IRS will tax the employee. Gifts of items worth more, or a gift of any amount of cash, risks the IRS taking the view that the gift belongs in the employee’s gross income. What constitutes a nominal amount is not crystal clear, but keeping a gift under $25 is erring on the safe side. It also assures a situation in which the employer can deduct the expense of the gift while not having it taxable to the employee.

If you have any questions about whether your holiday gift giving can trigger unintended tax implications, please consult your CPA accountant in our office.