Employer Diwali gifts under ₹15,000 may be tax-free
In short
Employer gifts worth less than ₹15,000 may not be taxed, but bonuses are taxed from the first rupee.
This matters for workers because a Diwali gift can be tax-free while a bonus can raise their tax bill. The source does not say the exact rule source or give any example.
What the reporting says
Employer gifts worth less than ₹15,000 may be tax-free, while bonuses are taxable from the first rupee, according to the publisher-supplied summary. The report says the rules can affect how a Diwali gift is treated for tax purposes and when a bonus raises the employee’s tax bill. What is not stated is the exact legal basis or any case-specific example.
Why it matters
The reporting says employer gifts below ₹15,000 may be tax-free, but bonuses are taxable from the first rupee. That affects how employees and payroll teams treat festive payouts and whether the amount adds to taxable income. The source does not provide the official rule text, any employer names, or a worked calculation, so the exact treatment in a specific case is not stated.