Blog

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion. When you have a great guy in your life, you’ll want to treat him to a special present to celebrate your love and show him your appreciation this Valentine’s Day.

While guys like just about anything, you should get him a gift that he will love and use. We have gathered 10 of the best Valentine’s Day gift ideas to help you find the perfect gift for your husband, boyfriend or partner.

10 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

1. Craft Beer

A gift box of beer will make any beer-lover smile.

If he is on a mission of trying as many craft beers as possible, gift him a 6-pack of beer that he has never tried before. He will love the opportunity to try some new beers from breweries he has never been—or even heard of—before.

2. A New Wallet

A wallet is a classic gift that your man will enjoy. And, he probably will need it if his current wallet needs an upgrade.

If your guy is particularly clumsy, buy him a water-resistant wallet. If he drops his wallet on a rainy day or while vacationing at the lake, he will not have to worry about his cards or receipts being damaged. The wallet will protect everything with its waterproofing.

3. Funky Boxer Briefs

There are some presents that men just need. A perfect example of that is super soft boxer briefs. But, plain boxers are not that exciting or romantic. Rather than giving him just a plain new pair, choose a funky pair with a fun, eccentric design. It will be funny and will be sure to make him smile.

You could also add a personal touch to your gift and get him personalized boxers. Many online companies offer customizable underwear. Choose a colour, upload your image or design, pick his size, and order a pair! Personalized underwear will be sure to make him laugh.

4. Wireless Earbuds

Is your guy still using the same old pair of headphones? The ones with the fraying wires and the crackling sounds? If yes, he is in need of a major upgrade. Buy him a pair of brand new earbuds. It is a gift that he needs and one that he’ll love; he will use them every day to listen to a podcast, your special song, or call you on his commute home after work.

5. A Gourmet Gift Basket

A gourmet gift basket is a perfect present for that special guy in your life. It will satisfy his cravings and allow him to indulge in delicious, luxurious foods he otherwise wouldn’t choose for himself. It is a thoughtful gift that he will be sure to love!

The best part is that there are many gift baskets to choose from, including fruit baskets, baskets filled with chocolate treats, hot sauce and snacks, and more. Find a gift basket that he’ll be sure to love, and add your own personal message to make it a special, personalized gift.

6. A Docking Station For His Phone

Any guy who loves tech will love a brand new docking station for his phone. If he has many other gadgets like a smartwatch and earbuds, get him a dock that will charge all of his devices at once.

7. Outdoor Adventures

Some men don’t need anything for Valentine’s Day. When you ask them, they will tell you that they have everything they need and tell you not to worry. While that is sweet, Valentine’s Day is about spending time together. If you can’t think of anything physical to get him, consider giving him an experience; adventures are the best way to celebrate special occasions.

During the winter months, there may not seem like much to do, but there are many great ways that you both can get outside; go skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing together. It will be a fun-filled day together!

8. Tie Bar

Does your guy wear ties to work? If he does, a tie clip or bar is exactly what he needs. A stainless steel tie clip will hold his tie in place. No more fighting with his tie; he can look effortlessly chic with a tie clip or bar.

To personalize it, get the bar engraved with a special message. He will read the message every morning when he puts on his tie and every evening when he takes it off.

9. Chocolate

If he has a sweet tooth, get him a gift that will satisfy his cravings. A box of chocolate or a bag of his favourite kind of candy will put a smile on his face. He may even share a couple of pieces with you!

10. A Special Valentine’s Day Dinner

The best present is time spent together. Plan a dinner out to his favourite restaurant, then a fun activity afterwards. A pre-planned date night is a sweet gift that your man will enjoy. He will get to enjoy spending time with you, enjoying each other’s presence, and indulging in some delicious food.

Find Valentine’s Day Gifts At Kairos Baskets & Gifts

Kairos Baskets & Gifts is your go-to place for great Valentine’s Day presents. Our independent, family-owned store specializes in personalized gourmet gift baskets and flower bouquets. We can help you find the right present for him. Contact us today for more information!

When you think of employee gifts, do not automatically assume that giving something to an employee would be considered taxable. Small businesses could give away a gift certificate, bottle of wine, and a gift basket all without the fear of them counting under your staff’s employment income. Yet, some holiday gifts to your employees can be taxable.

So, while you may give an employee a gift out of the kindness of your heart, it could come with its tax implications. If you want to celebrate the holiday season or a special occasion by rewarding your employees’ gifts, there are some tax implications that you should be aware of.

Gift Giving & Rewarding Employees

The first thing to be aware of is that there is a difference between gifts and awards when it comes to payroll taxes; awards are usually given to an employee for high levels of performance, finishing a project ahead of time, or long service or because the business wants to show appreciation for something specific that they have done. Awards are also usually given to one person or employee at a time, not your entire staff. Gifts, on the other hand, usually have no value and are given away to all employees at a holiday or special time of year.

Awards are typically considered rewards and are susceptible to taxes for the employee. A valid, non-taxable award usually must have defined criteria, a nomination and evaluation process, and a limited number of recipients. A great example of a reward is an Employee of the Month plaque. In contrast, gifts are usually not taxable as long as they meet specific criteria.

Before you start giving gifts away to your staff, you might want to make the distinction between gifts and awards to avoid any kind of legal implications.

The Art of Gift Giving: What Is Taxable & What Is Not

Before you decide to give gifts, make sure to know what is taxable and what is not because underneath all of that gift wrapping may be a tax implication for both you and your employees.

So, what is a taxable benefit? What is non-taxable? And what does this mean for your employment taxes?

What Is A Taxable Benefit?

A taxable benefit is any fringe benefits that an employee has because of their employment. Some examples of fringe benefits are group meals and beverages, entertainment expenses, and the occasional personal use of a company car. Gifts, whether monetary or physical, can be a fringe benefit.

Taxable benefits must be included in the employee’s income statement, also known as T4. As a result, your employees could pay more personal taxes because of your gift. A taxable gift is also pensionable, meaning you will need to pay CPP tax deductions.

To help both you and your staff avoid tax cuts, choose gifts that are nontaxable under the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Skip The Gift Certificates

While many employees are more than happy to accept a cash bonus or gift card as their holiday gift, this generosity does come with a tax liability.
The CRA outlines that cash bonuses or near-cash gifts (not cash but a gift with cash equivalents) like a gift card or gift certificate are considered a taxable benefit. This means that you will need to include the monetary value of the gift on your employee’s T4.

Baskets The Canada Revenue Agency has made an exception with non-cash gifts. Tangible gifts like a bottle of wine, sporting event tickets, or a gift basket are not taxable. However, a non-cash gift may not be tax-free if the total cost of the gift exceeds a combined total value of $500 in the same year. Small business owners may be required to include noncash gifts and awards on your employee’s taxable income if the total fair market value of the gifts is over $500. The following gifts are great for your employees and have a low fair market value:

* Gift baskets
* Wine
* Boxes of chocolates
* Company sweaters

Give Them A Gift That Is Sure To Make Them Smile

If you are looking to spread some holiday cheer, be sure to give your employees gift baskets. Baskets are not taxable as long as you spend under $500 per employee (that is, in the tax year). Thankfully, Kairos Baskets & Gifts have many gourmet baskets available at reasonable prices. You can thank your employees with a wonderful basket overflowing with sweets and treats.