BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons revealed that the BBC's executive directors have agreed to waive their bonuses for 2009.
The BBC's Director-General, Mark Thompson, will also forgo his entitlement, Sir Michael said at the Trust's press conference in London.
Sir Michael said the BBC was "not immune from financial pressures".
He said: "In the light of the financial challenges currently facing the BBC, the Trust asked the executive board remuneration committee to look very hard at whether it would be appropriate to pay any bonuses to public service executive directors in 2009.
"I have been informed by the chairman of the committee that, given the financial environment, all of these executive directors have agreed to waive their entitlement to any bonus in 2009.
"The DG has also informed me that, as in previous years, he will waive his entitlement to be considered for a bonus."
The corporation has come under fire in recent years for the size of executives' bonuses.
In July, Mr Thompson defended the decision to award pay rises to the corporation's executive directors despite a year of job cuts and phone-in scandals.
Mr Thompson waived his own right to a bonus then because of the "scale of disruption and uncertainty" facing BBC colleagues.
But nine executive directors did receive bonuses in 2007/08, according to this year's annual report.
BBC Vision director Jana Bennett took a total rise of more than £100,000 including her bonus and other benefits, but Mr Thompson said her bonus had been cut because of the fakery scandals involving some BBC TV shows.
He defended the rises, saying that across the board they were less than other broadcasters received individually outside the BBC.
Last month sources said the BBC has banned staff from putting champagne claims on expenses.
Staff from the corporation put in claims for £48,000-worth of bubbly last year.
A freedom of information request also showed that the BBC spent more than £200,000 on last year's Christmas parties.