Do you know about employees’ fringe benefits? If not, you need to be aware of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). This tax is imposed on employers who provide their employees with certain benefits in addition to their regular salary. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of FBT and discuss some of the key aspects that business owners need to be aware of. We will also provide a few examples of common fringe benefits. Keep reading for more information!
What is the Fringe Benefits Tax?
Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is a tax owed by an employer on certain benefits provided to employees. These benefits can be in the form of financial or non-financial rewards and can include things like company cars, private healthcare, and educational benefits.
Example of a fringe benefit
An example of a fringe benefit would be if an employee was given a company car to use for both business and personal travel. The value of the car would be considered a fringe benefit and would be subject to FBT.
Fringe Benefits Tax India abolished
In 2009, the Indian government abolished FBT. Prior to its abolition, the tax was levied at a rate of 30% on most benefits provided by employers to their employees. The abolition of FBT has been welcomed by businesses and employees alike.
The fringe benefits tax rate
The fringe benefits tax rate is the percentage of the value of a fringe benefit that is taxable. The rates vary depending on the type of benefit and the country in which it is provided. In Australia, for example, the fringe benefits tax rate is 47%. This means that if an employee receives benefits worth $100, the employer will be liable for $47 in FBT.
The abolition of FBT in India has led to a significant reduction in the cost of providing benefits to employees. This has been welcomed by businesses and employees alike. The removal of FBT has also made it easier for businesses to attract and retain talented staff.
Overall, the abolition of FBT has been positive for both businesses and employees. The removal of this tax has made it easier for businesses to provide benefits to their employees and has made India a more attractive destination for talent. However, it is important to remember that FBT is still levied in many other countries, so businesses and employees should be aware of the rates that apply in their jurisdiction.
Fringe Benefits Tax Exemption:
Under the current system, there are several conditions that must be met in order for an employee to qualify for a fringe benefits tax exemption. For example, the employee must have worked for the company for a certain period of time, and their salary must fall below a certain threshold. In addition, the fringe benefit must be provided by the employer in order to meet a business need, and it must be for the benefit of the employee.
Here were the exemptions when the Fringe Benefits Tax was not abolished:
– If the salary of an employee was below Rs.15, 000 per month, he was not liable to pay Fringe Benefits Tax.
– Also if an employee had completed five years or more in an organization, then he was exempted from paying Fringe Benefits Tax.
– An employee who had left his job before the completion of five years was liable to pay Fringe Benefits Tax.
– If an employee was transferred within the same organization to another city, he was exempted from paying Fringe Benefits Tax.
Conclusion:
The Fringe Benefits Tax rate for the 2020-21 financial year is 37% (plus surcharge and cess). FBT is levied on the value of certain fringe benefits provided by an employer to its employees. FBT was abolished in India from 2009 onwards. However, companies still need to pay tax on certain types of employee benefits, such as health insurance and housing allowance.
FBT is a tax on the benefits that an employer provides to its employees, such as health insurance, housing allowance, and company car.