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Some companies send a "Thank you" to an employee for accomplishing certain tasks or when they want to offer him a bonus for his hard work.
Should one respond to such emails and how?
For my case specifically the company's CTO himself sent me a "Thank you" email with a small bonus which is really uncommon in our workplace so I have a feeling that I should respond in some manner.
Your instinct is correct. You have received two things from your CTO: (a) a gift, and conventional etiquette (per Miss Manners) calls for thanking people who give you gifts, and (b) a commendation (the "thank you" part). Since they came together and you need to acknowledge the gift anyway, you can respond with something like "thank you for the bonus and the recognition". Especially when the recognition comes from the higher levels of an organization, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by being a gracious recipient.
Since the CTO sent you email, you should respond in kind -- partly because you're just continuing the venue he chose, and mostly because it's prompt. Making him wait several days for your response could make him think you didn't appreciate the gift. If he had sent you a letter through physical mail, then it would be more complicated: responding on paper isn't wrong, but if this is someone you interact with regularly, via email or face to face, you might consider valuing promptness over formality and using email. It's best if your response arrives before your next encounter with him, to avoid any awkwardness (did he get it? did he appreciate it?).
I don't think it necessary to always reply with "you're welcome." However, in the case of receiving a bonus or gift of some sort, I think you are obligated to reply with a "thank you."
I think the difference in this case is that your boss has gone above and beyond what would normally be expected--just as you presumably did when you performed your task that was worthy of a bonus.
Don't thank someone for a "thank you" message, or for a card. It just drags things out. For most people, thanking someone (either by phone, by email, by letter, or with a card) is the end of the transaction. So let it be the end.
If there is an actual gift (not just a card) or some kind of bonus, then definitely send a thank you. And do it promptly.
Yes, of course. Not only that - this is an opportunity to take advantage of, to make a connection and network.
Ask him to lunch or set-up a time to talk with him one on one, in the context of the thank you.
It could help you see some more of those bonuses, I mean thank you notes.
