12/16/2025
Year-end bonuses are high stakes, missteps can trigger wage-and-hour issues, tax problems, and plan misalignment. In today's attorney-led session, we’ll show you exactly what to do (and avoid) so bonuses are compliant, documented, and paid correctly.
We will cover:
• Discretionary vs. nondiscretionary bonuses and why the label matters
• Wage-and-hour impact: regular-rate inclusion and retro OT true-ups
• Tax treatment & reporting: W-2, supplemental withholding (flat vs. aggregate)
• 401(k) coordination: taking deferrals from bonus pay and match/true-ups
• Timing strategies: year-end vs. January payments and cash/tax effects
• Gross-ups: when to use them and how to model costs
• Eligibility & proration: new hires, leave, terminations, and policy alignment
Join us and leave with a checklist you can apply immediately across HR, finance, and payroll: https://tinyurl.com/3tkrt2z3