Due to Christmas Day falling on a Friday, this is my last article before Christmas so I thought I really ought to take this opportunity of wishing Christmas greetings to readers and again, due to the timing, my next article will be on January 8, 1999.

Perhaps I should also wish everybody a Happy New Year although, it seems a little odd to be doing this so early!

No doubt we are all hoping for presents at Christmas but the Revenue - like Scrooge - would not view such generosity as a gift since as far as the Revenue are concerned, anything which an employer gives his/her staff will be treated in a similar manner to a salary.

Gifts of money for example can only be paid out after taking account of PAYE and National Insurance. If an employer is determined to 'give' staff a Christmas bonus there are better ways of achieving the same end than giving cash.

This year, instead of money, employees may be given vouchers sold by famous department stores, supermarkets, chain stores, etc which can be used to purchase goods but cannot be exchanged for cash. They can be paid without complications of PAYE and National Insurance though details must be entered on the appropriate P11D's.

Under the existing rules, NIC is not charged on non-cash vouchers but this is the last year this will apply and this concession will cease on April 6, 1999.

Therefore, the non-payment of NIC on gifts represents an immediate cost saving of ten per cent to the employer in most cases.

Unfortunately, employees are taxable on the costs incurred by the employer in providing the vouchers but it is possible for employers to make arrangements with the Inland Revenue called 'PAYE settlement arrangements' to settle the employees tax bill.

After all, receiving a tax bill along with a gift does tend to de-value it! Gifts of goods will be taxed in a similar way to vouchers and will also avoid National Insurance.

No doubt most readers will be going to staff parties.

The Revenue are quite reasonable here and staff will not be taxed on the benefit of Christmas parties or similar events organised by employers where the cost per head, per year - including VAT - does not exceed £75.

Seventy five pounds per head means the total cost of the function including VAT and transport or accommodation provided by the employer divided by the number of people attending.

Peter Meredith is a partner with Horwath Clark Whitehill.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.