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Christmas parties and other company holidays can no longer take place this year, at least not on a legal basis.
Instead, companies should be able to give their employees tax-free vouchers of up to 365 euros. This was announced by the turquoise-green federal government club presidents August Wöginger (ÖVP) and Sigrid Maurer (Greens) at a press conference. The Wirtschaftsbund and Neos had previously voiced the idea publicly, and it has also been debated in government circles for a long time.
No gastronomic voucher
Explanation: The fact that Christmas celebrations should not be canceled without replacement has a history in tax law. Company events, such as Christmas parties, are tax-free for employees up to 365 euros per year.
Coupons should not, like the food coupon, be used only for a specific purpose, but are generally valid in retail. At the moment, no concrete plan for implementation has been presented, with more details.
“Strengthening the regional economy”
“This tax exemption for companies and employees must be maintained” and therefore could be replaced by vouchers, said Wöginger, who spoke of a “win-win situation”. The vouchers must be valid until December 31, 2021. This benefits companies, employees and all commerce, says Wöginger, who has a concrete idea of how the vouchers should be used: “My idea is, of course , that companies strengthen the regional economy “. He cited as an example purchasing groups at the regional or municipal level, in which stores and retailers join forces.
Maurer said: “In particular, vouchers can and should be used for the gastronomy and hospitality industry.” He called for coupons to be used regionally. However, this cannot be legally limited: “We assume that companies will, of course, invest in their regional community. Of course, a restriction to a certain region cannot be stipulated in law in this way.”
Gifts received at company events do not have to be taken into account in salary tax as long as they do not exceed the value of 186 euros per year. These material expenses are not affected by the new regulation.
