One year after the value of food vouchers was increased to BGN 200 (this happened on 4.03.2022 with the publication by the Ministry of Finance of an Order to determine the size of the individual quota and the total number of individual quotas for 2022), there have been no changes. despite good intentions. The maximum monthly amount remains up to BGN 200 per employee. The size of the individual quota for one employer is BGN 4 million. And the annual quota for vouchers is BGN 1 billion. This year there was a certain inconvenience for employers, as with changes in the Personal Income Tax Act they were obliged by the end of February to submit information on provided meal vouchers as part of the statement of taxable income paid to its employees. This year too, food vouchers will not be subject to VAT and there will be no additional taxes or charges for employers and employees.
In theory, everyone is happy
Instead of a BGN 200 salary increase in cash, a large part of the business during the past difficult year gave vouchers of this value. Both parties should be satisfied with this approach. A total of BGN 106 is saved by the employer and the employee from one monthly food voucher worth BGN 200. The monthly saving from tax and insurance contributions for the employer amounts to BGN 48.76, and for the employee – BGN 57.74. The example calculation was made on the website of one of the large operators “Edenred” when issuing a voucher for the third category of work to an employee born after 1960. An important clarification is that although the coupons are given as a supplement to the salary, they do not change the insurance income of the employee, respectively, are not reflected in the formation of a pension.
It has an expiration date
When shopping with a voucher in the commercial network, look very carefully at the expiry date written on the paper. It is usually up to 12 months from the date of issue. Cashiers are also trained to keep an eye on this item and not accept expired vouchers. In such a case, the holder of the coupon has only one useful move, and that is with the help of his boss.
“All types of vouchers, with the exception of the Dining Pass under Regulation 7, can be reissued up to 30 days after the expiration date written on them,” informs Sodexo. The employer must describe the number and denomination of the vouchers and send them to the issuing company. “We will issue a proforma invoice for payment of the reissue commission as per the terms of the contract. After payment, we send you the reissued vouchers with the same denomination and a new validity period according to the terms of the contract,” they describe from there.
Are forgeries possible?
Probably, but it won’t be easy for amateurs. The meal vouchers have a unique series, number and embossed barcode, a hologram strip with 2D and 3D image, a second barcode containing voucher information and a QR code, Sodexo said. According to the internal rules of companies issuing vouchers, coupons with broken integrity, soiled barcode and serial number at the same time should not be accepted.
Will the introduction of the euro change the situation?
Although Bulgaria does not have an exact date for joining the Eurozone, the authorities continue to provide clarifications as part of their information campaign.
The BNB and the Ministry of Finance indicate that postage stamps, lottery games with a predetermined result, discount coupons and coupons for the value of returned goods, as well as gift or food vouchers that were on sale before the date of introduction of the euro in our country , will be able to be used even after the date of adoption of the euro in our country. They can be used until they expire or while stocks last. The value in levs will be converted into euros according to the fixed exchange rate in our country.
According to data from the Association of Food Voucher Operators, as of September of this year, more than 650,000 workers receive them. Even then, the average amount was BGN 150. An important rule is that all employees in a company must receive vouchers of the same value – from the boss to the porter.
