A year-end bonus is a form of compensation that employers pay to their employees in addition to their regular earnings. This type of bonus is often tied to performance metrics. Bonuses can be made in cash as lump-sum payments or in other forms, such as stocks or paid time off.

You can include the bonus with regular wages or pay it separately. If you put the bonus on an employee's regular paycheck, you withhold taxes based on the total amount. Conversely, you can pay a stand-alone bonus and withhold the 22% supplemental rate.