Fringe benefits

By its nature, fringe benefit is the income of the recipient (employee), but paying income and social tax on the fringe benefit is the obligation of the person granting the benefit (employer). Fringe benefits i.e. benefits provided by the employer to the employee are subject to income tax at a rate of 22/78 and social tax at a rate of 33%.

Pursuant to subsection 1 of § 48 of the Income Tax Act, employers pay income tax on fringe benefits granted to employees.

Based on clause 7 of subsection 1 of § 2 of the Social Tax Act, social tax is paid on fringe benefits within the meaning of the Income Tax Act, expressed in monetary terms, and on income tax payable on fringe benefits.

Declaration

The period of taxation of fringe benefits is one calendar month. The employer declares the fringe benefits granted to employees and income and social tax calculated on fringe benefits during a calendar month in Annex 4 of the form TSD, which must be submitted together with the form TSD to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board by the 10th day of the month following the calendar month in which the fringe benefit was granted. The tax amount is paid to the bank account of the Tax and Customs Board by the same date at the latest.

Handbook “Fringe benefits”

Calculation and declaration of tax incentives

Calculation of tax incentives

If the period of making the expense (receiving the benefit) and payment for it are on different times, the employer must choose the way to keep records: whether the records are kept based on the expense (activity) or the payment made in a year. The employer must use the chosen method consistently throughout the year and for all employees.

Declaration

The amount exceeding the tax-exempt limit is declared on Annex 4 of form TSD at code 4120. The form is submitted by the 10th day of each following month. The tax liability on fringe benefits is paid based on form TSD, as usual.

The total of tax-exempt health improvement expenses covered or reimbursed during the calendar year in the extent of the threshold (subsection 55 of § 48 of the Income Tax Act) and the number of employees for whom expenses have been covered or reimbursed during the calendar year are declared in part III of form INF 14.

Mandatory expenses arising from subsection 1 of § 13 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act are not indicated in the form INF 14, because these expenses are related to business and are not declared there.

Tax liability

The price of the fringe benefit is calculated from the part exceeding the limit.

Example
The employer has concluded a contract for the use of the sports club in the amount of 500 euros per month (i.e. 6000 euros per year). 10 employees use the offered possibility. The annual tax-exempt limit for 10 employees is 10 × 400 euros = 4000 euros. 6000 – 4000 = 2000 euros is subject to taxation with both income tax and social tax.

Last updated on 08.01.2025

Last updated: 05.11.2025

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