Corona Bonus 2021, vouchers instead of Christmas celebrations

Corona bonus

Almost at the last minute, the National Council decided that bonus payments to employees who are paid for the calendar year 2021 until February 2022 due to the Covid-19 crisis are tax-free up to 3,000 EUR.

These additional payments must be made exclusively for this purpose. These bonus payments are exempt from payroll tax, social security, municipal tax, and employer contribution to the family support fund. The Corona bonus is not limited to specific industries or systems-related professions.

The payment can be made in one lump sum or in several installments. The bonuses can also be paid in the form of vouchers. The Corona bonus does not increase the annual quarter and is not counted towards the annual quarter. The bonus payments can also be granted for periods of short-time work.

Gift certificates instead of Christmas celebrations

Due to the lockdown, many Christmas celebrations could not take place. Therefore, vouchers can again be given away this year instead of Christmas celebrations.

If the tax-free allowance for participation in company events is not used up in the 2021 calendar year, the employer may issue vouchers worth up to 365 EUR to their employees from 1.11.2021 to 31.1.2022. These vouchers constitute a tax-free monetary benefit from participation in company events. The tax exemption covers both vouchers from individual retailers and from associations of individual retailers (e.g. shopping vouchers).

These vouchers are a tax-free monetary benefit from participation in company events and are therefore exempt from payroll expenses (municipal tax and employer contribution to the family support fund). They are also exempt from social security contributions. The tax-free allowance for non-monetary benefits up to an annual amount of 186 EUR remains unaffected by this measure.

Status: 21.12.2021

Source https://www.wko.at/service/steuern/update-lohnverrechnung.html