is a lifetime achievement award given to an employee taxable 
an achievement award may be excluded from taxation as a fringe benefit if it meets specific criteria for example it must be worth less than 1 600 and cannot be cash or cash equivalents such as a gift certificate or gift card it also cannot be stocks bonds or other securities the exclusion doesn t include vacations meals lodging and tickets to theater or sporting events 4the bottom linefringe benefits are additional incentives designed to attract and retain talent examples of fringe benefits are paid time off for specific occasions exercise areas or pet friendly work environments 