The Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs (FPP) calls for the introduction of quick help for the catering industry. Experts point out that the introduction of PLN 560 monthly vouchers exempt from PIT and ZUS for meals for employees is an additional PLN 4 billion for the economy.
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Meal vouchers /AFP
The Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs (FPP) points out that the introduction of PLN 560 monthly vouchers exempt from PIT and ZUS for meals for employees – voluntarily financed by the employer – amounts to PLN 7.6 billion of additional GDP.
This is particularly important for the catering industry – severely affected by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic – the growth of which could thus reach over PLN 4 billion annually.
– Taking into account the flows between branches of the economy and multiplier effects, the increase in the number of workplaces providing employees with meals subsidies in the form of prepaid cards or vouchers from 3% up to 18 percent of employed persons would contribute to an increase in GDP by PLN 7.6 billion.
– The system of benefits related to food would also positively affect the condition of the catering industry, being the most stable source of constant income for many entities. Currently, the market of benefits related to food operates on a small scale – which means that the exemption from contributions from the still not existing turnover would not result in a reduction in the revenues of the public finance sector.
The demand generated by fiscal incentives would become a subject of taxation at a later stage of the business cycle – when the VAT consumed meals are taxed and the income from the activity of the catering sector – emphasizes Marek Kowalski, chairman of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs (FPP), chairman of the Center for Legislative Analysis and Economic Policy (CALPE).
Currently, the employer may voluntarily provide the employee with a benefit in the form of meals and food products, using food cards or vouchers (excluding cases in which it is his obligation under the regulations) – however, exemption from contributions from these benefits may only be up to PLN 190 monthly.
This limit has not been changed since 2004 – the exemption per working day is only about PLN 9.
In Poland, 3% use food cards and vouchers entitled due to imprecise legal regulations and low value of the amount exempt from ZUS. In the European Union countries where these benefits benefit from a wider scope of exemption from contributions and personal income tax – e.g. Belgium, Slovakia, Romania – the share of employees using meal cards or vouchers exceeds an average of 30%.
