Social benefits and bonuses of 3,000 euros for bills and gasoline: how it works

Euro banknotes (generic) – Photo by Ansa Foto

The threshold for social benefits granted by private companies to employees has increased to 3,000 euros (it was 600 before) and will not be subject to taxation. This is one of the innovations contained in the Aiuti Quater decree.

The tax exemption therefore increases and consists of economic support provided to workers to cope with the high cost of living. As well as helping to support the costs of social benefits, such as meal vouchers, company cars and mobile phones, by 2022 it will also include household electricity and gas utilities.

Benefits

Benefits that are part of company social protection are at the discretion of employers. They are not subject to taxation and may include purchase vouchers, fuel vouchers, economic incentives linked to good performance of the company. These disbursements are not subject to tax.

Until now, as mentioned, the tax exemption ceiling for social benefits was 600 euros. With the Aiuti Quater decree, it increases to 3 thousand and, only for the tax period relating to 2022, will also concern the reimbursement of invoices, which may also concern invoices issued in 2023 provided that they refer to consumption in 2022 .

How to get the 3000 euro bonus

Employees should contact their employer. The latter has no obligation to provide social benefits. These disbursements are 100% deductible and reduce the difference between salary and social security contributions on the taxable amount.

Not having the obligation to grant social benefits, the employer can refuse to grant them. The reason can also be related to excessive expenses or the complexity of the procedure, especially for small and medium-sized companies. For the larger ones, the unions have invited the workers’ representatives to be the spokespersons for all those who wish to apply and to simplify the procedure.

How are benefits obtained?

If the employer agrees, you can proceed in two ways. The first is the reimbursement of expenses already incurred by the employee, who must provide the company with the most recent invoices. The second is the direct payment by the company of subsequent invoices, not only for the house but also for the condominium invoices. The decision is made by the employer.

The maximum deadline for payment of social benefits is set at January 12, 2023, both for invoices issued before December 31, 2022 and for subsequent invoices but which refer to the previous year.

Benefits are not part of salary, net and non-taxable.