Meal Vouchers: Value, Exemption and Amount to Credit

As the administrator of meal vouchers, you choose the value of the vouchers given to your employees and must comply with exemption thresholds to avoid any penalties. Here are the rules regarding value, exemption, and the amount to be credited.

What is the face value of a meal voucher?

The face value is the total amount of the meal voucher. It includes two parts: the employer's contribution (the part paid by the employer) and the employee's contribution (the part paid by the employee). As the administrator, you are free to decide the amount you allocate to each meal voucher.

How can you benefit from exemption from National Insurance contributions and what amount should you credit?

For meal vouchers to be exempt from National Insurance contributions, the split between the two parts must meet the following thresholds:

• The employee's contribution must be between 40% and 50% of the voucher's value.
• The employer's contribution must be between 50% and 60% of the voucher's value. If the 50% threshold is not met, the entire employer's contribution must be included in the calculation base for contributions. For more information, see this dedicated article.

What are the exemption conditions from 1 January 2026?

From 1 January 2026, the exemption limits for meal vouchers are as follows:

Above these amounts, the excess is subject to tax and contributions.

Is it possible to give a meal voucher amount above the maximum limit?

Yes, it is possible to give a meal voucher above the exemption limit. However, if this limit is exceeded, the employer must add the excess amount (the part above the threshold) to the calculation base for contributions. In practice, both the employer and the employee will then pay social contributions and tax on this excess.

Change the face value of meal vouchers