3. what are fringe benefits? what are common components of fringe benefits? course hero

by Delphia Paucek 3 min read

Common fringe benefits are basic items often included in hiring packages. These include health insurance, life insurance, tuition assistance, childcare reimbursement, cafeteria subsidies, below-market loans, employee discounts, employee stock options, and personal use of a company-owned vehicle.

Full Answer

What are the different types of fringe benefits?

Common fringe benefits are basic items often included in hiring packages. These include health insurance, life insurance, tuition assistance, childcare reimbursement, cafeteria subsidies, below-market loans, employee discounts, employee stock options, and personal use of a company-owned vehicle. Uncommon fringe benefits may fit the company profile.

Why do employers invest in fringe benefit programs?

The following are some of the reasons why employers invest in fringe benefit programs: Companies that offer additional benefits above the salary often stand out from their competitors, and it makes the company attractive to different stakeholders.

What is the difference between fringe benefits and fair value?

On the contrary, the recipients of fringe benefits are required to include the fair value Fair Value Fair value refers to the actual value of an asset - a product, stock, or security - that is agreed upon by both the seller and the buyer.

How is the amount of a fringe benefit calculated?

Fringe benefits are calculated based on the fair market value of any service or as a percentage of wages paid to an employee. In the United States, the current rate of social security contribution by the employer is 6.2% of the earnings, so the contribution by an employer depends on earnings of the employee subject to a maximum limit:

What is fringe benefit?

Fringe benefits are additions to compensation that companies give their employees. Some fringe benefits are given universally to all employees of a company while others may be offered only to those at executive levels. Some benefits are awarded to compensate employees for costs related to their work while others are geared to general job ...

Why do employers use fringe benefits?

In any case, employers use fringe benefits to help them recruit, motivate, and keep high-quality people. 1:41.

What are the benefits of Alphabet?

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is known for its benefits that include free commuter bus service and a free gourmet cafeteria. Microsoft gives 20 weeks of paid time off to new birth mothers and 12 weeks for other new parents.

Is fringe benefit taxable?

By default, fringe benefits are taxable unless they are specifically exempted. Recipients of taxable fringe benefits are required to include the fair market value of the benefit in their taxable income for the year.

What is fringe benefit?

One of the most-coveted fringe benefits is an employer-contributed 401 (k). These plans help you save for retirement. When employers match or make qualified contributions to your 401 (k) plan, you will see an increase in the amount of your overall retirement.

Do employers offer free meals?

Oftentimes, employers will offer you benefits based upon your industry or the company itself. For example, if you work at a restaurant, you might be offered free meals. If you work at an athletic center, you might be offered free exercise classes.

Is fringe benefit taxable?

The short answer is yes. Although fringe benefits are taxable, the law can exclude certain benefits, either partially or entirely. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the IRS Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.

Do health benefits get deducted from paycheck?

You’ll notice some benefits are deducted from your paycheck before taxes, such as health care contributions. But other benefits, such as discounts and membership reimbursements, will not be reflected in your paycheck or salary.

Do employers offer insurance?

Some employers offer their employees various forms of insurance. The type of insurance and the coverage plans available will vary and it’s ultimately up to you to select the right plan for you and your family.

Do employers give free gym memberships?

Many employers today offer their employees free or discounted gym memberships. This is an especially popular fringe benefit if you work in an athletic store. If your company has an in-house gym, they might provide you with free access to their gym.

What are the advantages of fringe benefits?

Advantages. Employee motivation and satisfaction. The employer gets tax benefits on most of the fringe benefit expenses. Increased productivity of employees. The employer gets the deal in bulk, so the insurance costs are less costly compared to individual policies. Increases goodwill of organization in the market;

What is fringe benefit?

Fringe benefits refer to the additional compensation which is given by the companies to their employees whether for compensating against the costs in connecting with their work or for the job satisfaction and the examples of which includes health insurance, assistance for the tuition fees of the child or other reimbursements for the children, company car, etc.

What are the disadvantages of a 401(k) plan?

Disadvantages. Increases the cost per employee for an organization; Difficult to keep all employees happy instead of best efforts by the employer. Statutory obligation regarding fringe benefits and time-consuming and costly; Maintenance of records needs personnel.

How is fringe benefit calculated?

Fringe benefits are calculated based on the fair market value of any service or as a percentage of wages paid to an employee. In the United States, the current rate of social security contribution by the employer is 6.2% of the earnings, so the contribution by an employer depends on earnings of the employee subject to a maximum limit:

When an employer provides an interest free loan to its employees, what is considered the fringe benefit?

When the employer provides an interest-free loan to its employees, the national interest which the employee would have paid had he taken that loan from an outside lender, is considered the value of the fringe benefit. In case there is variation in rates, the rate at which the largest nationalized bank operates is considered.

How does insurance cost depend on dependents?

The cost of insurance depends on the number of dependents one has. The cost goes up with more dependants and escalates further once parents are included. So here it will be the total amount charged by Insurance company to an employer.

Is personal usage fringe benefit?

In a few cases, the equipment is used for both personal and professional usage, then the value or cost of personal usage is considered a Fringe benefit. Many companies provide free meals to their employees during office hours. This is calculated based on the cost charges by Vendor per meal per person.

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How Fringe Benefits Work

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The various fringe benefits that are provided to employees vary from one company to another, since the employer can choose the benefits that will be provided to employees during a certain period. Employees are given the chance to select the fringe benefits that they are interested in during recruitmentNew Employee Orient…
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Types of Benefits

  • Fringe benefits can be categorized into two categories. Some benefits are required by law and others are provided at the employer’s discretion.
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Why Employers Offer Fringe Benefits

  • The following are some of the reasons why employers invest in fringe benefit programs: Public perception Companies that offer additional benefits above the salary often stand out from their competitors, and it makes the company attractive to different stakeholders. For example, customers are likely to buy from companies that are recognized in the public arena for treating t…
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Additional Resources

  • Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Fringe Benefits. To keep advancing your career, the additional resources below will be useful: 1. CommissionCommissionCommission refers to the compensation paid to an employee after completing a task, which is, often, selling a certain number of products or services 2. Employee MoraleSoft SkillsSoft skills are c...
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