Corporate Gift Cards in 2026: The Complete Guide for Employers
Pascal van Dalen
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TL;DR — In 90 seconds
Why do companies choose a digital gift card?
More and more companies are switching from physical gifts to digital gift cards. The reason is simple: faster, more personal, and scalable — without the logistical hassle.
A digital gift card works for every reward occasion: - Year-end gifts and Christmas hampers - Anniversaries and birthdays - Sales incentives and performance rewards - Customer loyalty and referral programmes - Onboarding and welcome gifts
With a platform like Giffy, you send them from a single dashboard, in your own corporate identity, to teams of 10 to 10,000+ employees.
How does a digital gift card for businesses work?
The process is simple: 1. Create a campaign — choose the amount, theme, and recipient list 2. Personalise — add your logo, brand colours, and a personal (video) message 3. Send — by email or QR code, no addresses needed 4. Recipient chooses themselves — from 150+ brands and shops, from Bol.com to local favourites 5. Reporting — real-time insight into redemption rates and WKR spending
No account creation, no app downloads. The recipient clicks, chooses, and receives — done.
Digital gift card vs. physical gift
Digital (Giffy) | Physical Christmas hamper | |
|---|---|---|
Freedom of choice | Recipient chooses themselves from 150+ brands | One hamper for everyone |
Logistics | None — send by email/QR | Addresses, shipping, storage |
Branding | Fully in your own corporate identity | Limited (card in box) |
Personalisation | Video, text, theme per recipient | Standard card |
WKR reporting | Automatic, real-time | Manual tracking |
Scalability | 10 to 10,000+ in one click | Logistically complex for large teams |
International | Yes — selection adapts per country | Arrange shipping per country |
Speed | Live in one working day | Weeks of preparation |
WKR and digital gift cards: what is allowed in 2026?
Digital gift cards fall under the discretionary margin of the work-related expenses scheme (WKR), just like physical Christmas hampers. In 2026, the following applies: - 2% discretionary margin on the first €400,000 of taxable wage - 1.18% on the amount above that - Exceeding = 80% final tax levy for the employer
Condition: the gift card must not be exchangeable for cash.
With Giffy, every reward is automatically categorised per WKR code. Finance exports the report directly — no manual administration.
Read more: WKR rules 2026 explained →
When do you use a digital gift card?
Year-end (seasonal) Christmas hampers, year-end gifts, New Year wishes. Start planning in September, send in the first two weeks of December. More about year-end gifts →
Year-round (revenue-generating) Sales incentives, referral rewards, customer loyalty, employee engagement. Structural rewards that have an immediate impact on revenue and retention. More about rewarding → More about loyalty →
Why do 300+ companies choose Giffy?
No platform costs — only pay per reward sent
Own branding — logo, colours, themes, personal shop
WKR-compliant — automatic reporting and Finance export
150+ brands — from Dutch chains to top international brands
Worldwide — selection adapts per country
B Corp certified — sustainable and transparent
Onboarding in 1 day — no IT integration required
API integrations — AFAS, Personio, Nmbrs, purchasing systems
4.8 on Google Reviews — highest-rated customer service
Frequently asked questions
What does a digital gift card cost for businesses? You determine the amount per recipient yourself. Giffy does not charge platform or subscription fees — you only pay the value of the sent rewards.
Is a digital gift card WKR-compliant? Yes. Digital gift cards fall under the WKR discretionary margin, provided they are not exchangeable for cash. Giffy reports automatically per WKR code.
Can I personalise the gift card with my corporate identity? Yes. Add your logo, brand colours, a personal message, and even a video. The recipient experiences the gift entirely in your branding.
How long is a Giffy gift card valid for? The unique code is valid for at least two years. The validity of the underlying gift cards varies by brand.
Can I also send internationally? Yes. Giffy automatically adapts the selection per country. A recipient in the Netherlands sees different brands than someone in the UK or Germany.
How quickly can I start? Within one working day. You get a dashboard, upload your list, and send. No IT integration required to get started.
Can I also use Giffy for sales incentives or referral programmes? Absolutely. Giffy is not just for year-end — the platform works for every reward occasion: performance, loyalty, referrals, onboarding, and more.
Ready to reward digitally? Schedule a free demo and discover what Giffy can do for your organisation. → Schedule free demo
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About the author
Giffy is the Dutch platform for digital gift cards that allows companies to pay out value securely, quickly, and on-brand — to customers, partners, and employees. → getgiffy.com
I am a passionate and commercial professional with over 25 years of experience in leading sales and marketing development teams, implementing go-to-market strategies, and driving revenue growth in the FinTech - AI industry.
