New Year’s events for employees
At this time of year, many companies tend to host New Year’s parties for their employees. Companies should keep in mind the following tax issues related to New Year’s parties and New Year’s gifts given to employees.
Keywords: Mazars, Thailand, Tax, New Year, Corporate income tax, VAT, Personal income tax
8 January 2021
1. New Year’s party held for employees
1.1 For companies
Type of tax | Issue | Tax treatment | Reference |
Corporate income tax | Are costs incurred for holding a New Year’s party deductible expenses for corporate income tax purposes? | Those costs can be deductible expenses if a company has a clear policy of holding a New Year’s party for its employees, and the party was held in accordance with that policy, and was for all employees, without preferential treatment of some employees. | Ruling No. Gor Kor 0706/9276 dated 9 November 2005 |
VAT | Is input VAT on the costs incurred for holding a New Year’s party claimable for VAT purposes? | Such input VAT can be claimable if a company has a clear policy of holding a New Year’s party for its employees, and the party was held in accordance with that policy, and was for all employees, without preferential treatment of some employees. | Ruling No. Gor Kor 0706/Por./9052 dated 6 September 2007 |
1.2 For employees
Type of tax | Issue | Reference | |
Personal income tax | Is the New Year’s party a fringe benefit for employees, subject to personal income tax? | If a company has a policy of holding a New Year’s party for employees, and the party is held in accordance with that policy, and is for all employees, it will be considered as income provided to employees in a ceremony or on occasions in accordance with established customs, and thus is exempt from personal income tax. | Ruling No. Gor Kor 0706/9276 dated 9 November 2005 |
2. Gifts given to employees
2.1 For companies
Type of tax | Issue | Tax treatment | Reference |
Corporate income tax | Are the costs of New Year’s gifts given to employees deductible expenses for corporate income tax purposes? | If a company has a clear policy of giving New Year’s gifts to its employees, and the gifts were given in accordance with that policy, and were given to all employees, without preferential treatment of some employees, the costs of those gifts are deductible. Otherwise, they will be considered private expenses, and are non-deductible. | Section 65 ter (3) of the Revenue Code |
VAT | Input VAT: Is the VAT paid on the costs of New Year’s gifts given to employees claimable for VAT purposes? | Such input VAT can be claimable if a company has a clear policy of giving New Year’s gifts to its employees, and the gifts are given in accordance with that policy, and are given for all employees, without preferential treatment of some employees. | Ruling No. Gor Kor 0706/9052 dated 6 September 2007 |
Output VAT: Are New Year’s gifts given to employees subject to VAT? | Giving New Year’s gifts to employees is considered as sales for VAT purposes and therefore subject to the VAT. Accordingly, the company is required to pay 7% VAT on the value of the gifts given to employees (cost of purchase). However, the company does not have to prepare a tax invoice for such gifts if the company does not collect the VAT on such gifts from employees. Nevertheless, the company must include such gifts together with the VAT in the output VAT report. | Section 77/1(8) of the Revenue Code Clause 2(10) of the Departmental Instruction No. Paw. 86/2542
Clause 7(6) of the Notification of the Director-General of the Revenue Department regarding VAT (No. 89) |
2.2 For employees
Type of tax | Issue | Tax treatment | Reference |
Personal income tax | Are New Year’s gifts given to employees assessable income of the employees, subject to personal income tax? | If a company has a policy of giving New Year’s gifts for employees, and the gifts are given in accordance with that policy, and given to all employees, it will be considered income provided to employees in a ceremony or on occasions in accordance with established customs, and thus exempt from personal income tax. | Section 42 of the Revenue Code |
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