Trivial perks

This is back on the legislative programme and hopefully will take effect from 6 April 2016. The new tax and NIC exemption of £50 will apply to as many perks as you want to give employees although there will be an annual cap of £300 for directors and their families. There are some restrictions; the perk must not be in cash or a voucher convertible into cash. It must not be a reward for an employee doing their job and it must not be part of a salary sacrifice arrangement.

This is obviously a great relief and hopefully will produce a level playing field. Currently different officers within HMRC operate an informal concession on trivial benefits where ‘trivial’ can take on a hold load of meanings!

The existing exemptions – mobile phone in the name of the company, parking close to a place of work or Christmas Party exemption continue and will take priority.