W ith the well-earned December/January holiday season on the way, many employers will be planning to reward staff with a celebratory party or event.
While keeping it fun and festive, we encourage you plan appropriately for any possible FBT and income tax implications of providing entertainment (including Christmas parties) to staff and clients.

FBT and 'Entertainment Expenses'

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

Under the actual method , entertainment costs are normally split up between employees (and their family) and non-employees (e.g., clients and suppliers).

Such expenditure on employees is deductible and liable to FBT. Expenditure on non-employees is not liable to FBT and not tax deductible.

Using the 50/50 method instead?

Rather than apportion meal entertainment expenditure on the basis of actual attendance by staff, 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.

Here are the "traps" to consider:

1 - Even if the function is held on the employer's premises – food and drink provided to employees is not exempt from FBT;
2 - the minor benefit exemption* cannot apply; and
3 - the general taxi travel exemption (for travel to or from the employer's premises ) also apply.

(*) Minor benefit exemption
The minor benefit exemption provides an exemption from FBT for most benefits of 'less than $300' that are provided to employees (and their family/associates) on an infrequent and irregular basis.

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 deductible.

Editor: And 'less than' $300 means no more than $299.99! A $300 gift to an employee will be caught for FBT, whereas a $299 gift may be exempt.

Example: Christmas Party

An employer holds a Christmas party for its 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., by applying the minor benefit exemption), however, the party expenditure is not tax deductible.

If the 50/50 method is used:

· The expenditure is $10,000, so $5,000 (i.e., 50%) is liable to FBT and tax deductible.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Editor: When rewarding employees and loyal clients/customers/suppliers it is important to understand how gifts to staff and clients, etc., are handled 'tax-wise'.

Gifts that 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 their 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 that are considered to be entertainment

These generally include, for example, tickets to attend the theatre, a 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 their family members – are liable to FBT (except where the 'less than $300' minor benefit exemption applies) and tax deductible (unless they are exempt from FBT) ; and
- gifts to clients, suppliers, etc. – no FBT
- and not tax deductible.

Non-entertainment gifts at functions

Editor: 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?

Actual method used for meal entertainment

Under the actual method, for employees attending with their spouses, no FBT is payable, because the cost of each separate benefit (being the expenditure on both the Christmas party and the gift) is less than $300 (i.e., the benefits are not aggregated).

No deduction is allowed for the food and drink expenditure, but the cost of each gift is tax deductible.

50/50 method used for meal entertainment

Where the 50/50 method is adopted:

· 50% of the total cost of food and drink is liable to FBT and tax deductible; and

· in relation to the gifts:

– the total cost of all gifts is not liable to FBT because the individual cost of each gift is less than $300; and

– as the gifts are not entertainment, the cost is tax deductible.

To Sum Up
We understand that this can all be somewhat bewildering, so if you would like a little help, just contact our office.

Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information's applicability to their particular circumstances.