Hi there!
Let’s talk about gift card regulations in Spain. Many companies use gift cards as a way to reward or incentivize their employees or customers, but do you know what are the tax implications of this practice?
It’s important to keep in mind that the use of gift cards is subject to taxes according to the Personal Income Tax Law (IRPF in Spain) and the Value Added Tax Law (VAT). This means that, if a gift card is given to an employee or customer, it will be considered a payment in kind and, therefore, must be taxed.
In the case of rewarding or incentivizing your customers, we have to learn to distinguish the two types of gift cards in Spain: multi-purpose cards and single-purpose or univalent cards.
Multi-purpose cards are those that can be used to buy products with different VAT rates. For example, a gift card from a shopping mall that can be used in any store in the mall. In this case, the value of the card will be included in the VAT base and taxed as if it were a normal sale.
Univalent cards, on the other hand, are those that can only be used in a specific establishment or store. For example, a Zara gift card that can only be used in Zara stores. In this case, the value of the card will not be included in the VAT taxable base and, therefore, will not be taxed.
Gift cards can also be an effective way to reward and motivate employees. However, it is important to be aware of the taxation related to these incentives, as the value of gift cards may be considered as taxable income and be subject to personal income tax and social security contributions.
In general, the value of gift cards given to employees as incentives can be excluded from the taxable income up to a certain limit.
If you pay with gift cards, the value of these cards may also be considered as taxable income and be subject to personal income tax and social security contributions. In this case, the limit for excluding the value of gift cards from the taxable income may vary depending on the tax provisions in force at the time the gift cards are received as payment for work.
In conclusion, if your company uses gift cards as a way of rewarding or incentivizing its employees or clients, it is important to be aware of the tax implications of this practice and ensure that you comply with all the corresponding tax obligations.
