Seasonal and annual bonus

Year End Bonus Calculator

Use year end bonus when the payout is tied to calendar year close, holiday policy or discretionary company payout.

Intent separation

Annual bonus, year end bonus and Christmas bonus are not the same search intent. This page now links users to the matching calculator instead of making every seasonal page compete with each other.

Gross estimate warning

These calculators estimate gross planning values before tax or payroll deductions.

Which calculator should you use?

NeedUse
Target annual performance payoutAnnual bonus calculator
Holiday or end of year payoutYear end bonus calculator
Christmas or holiday flat amountChristmas bonus calculator

Related tools and next steps

Worked example: a year-end bonus on salary

A $70,000 salary with an 8% year-end bonus pays 70,000 × 0.08 = $5,600. If prorated for a July start (about half the year), it would be roughly $2,800.

Year-end bonus = Salary × Bonus% (× proration if part-year)
Result
$5,600 year-end bonus (8% of salary)

Discretionary year-end bonuses can vary from the formula amount.

Salary
$70,000
Year-end bonus 8%
$5,600
If prorated ½ year
$2,800
A year-end bonus as a share of salary, with part-year proration.
Salary
$70,000
Bonus %
8%
Full bonus
$5,600
Prorated ½ yr
$2,800
Type
Annual/discretionary
Gross
Before tax

Year-end bonus questions

How is a year-end bonus calculated?

Most year-end bonuses are salary × a bonus percentage. Discretionary bonuses may be a flat amount set by the company instead.

Is a year-end bonus the same as a Christmas bonus?

Often, but not always. A year-end bonus is usually performance- or policy-based, while a Christmas bonus can be a flat goodwill gift.

Are year-end bonuses prorated for new starters?

Frequently yes — many employers prorate by the share of the year worked, unless the policy guarantees a full bonus.

Is a year-end bonus taxed?

Yes, year-end bonuses are taxed as income. This calculator shows the gross amount before withholding.