Staff Parties: At a Glance
A staff party or an annual function qualifies as a tax-free benefit for your employees providing that you meet the following conditions:
- The total cost must not exceed £150 per head, per year,
- £150 includes VAT, together with any extra costs such as transport and accommodation,
- The £150 is a limit and not an allowance: if the cost is £151, the whole benefit is taxable,
- The event must be primarily for entertaining staff,
- The event must be open to all staff (in that location, if you have several branches or departments),
- The event must not just be for directors unless all your staff are directors,
- The cost of the whole event is an allowable expense for your business, you can claim back input VAT but this may be restricted where you are also entertaining customers.
Virtual Parties
In light of the social distancing restrictions imposed by Covid-19, many staff parties are being held online. Virtual parties (where staff join using video conferencing or some other IT software) have been added to HMRC’s guidance regarding annual functions qualifying for a tax exemption.
If the party is held using IT and meets all of the other conditions, then it will be exempt.
What to do next?
Our dedicated team is here to help you, with our services available predominately in Chorley, Buckshaw Village, Leyland and surrounding areas.
