Electronic meal vouchers: everything you need to know as an employer
11.04.2023
You're an employer and you know that the digitization of meal vouchers in Bulgaria began on January 1, 2024, but you're not familiar with the details of the topic? Or are you the person who takes care of your team's benefits, but that's just one of your many tasks on an endless list?
Frequently asked questions from employers
What is an electronic meal voucher?
Employers use meal vouchers to provide their employees with a monthly tax and national insurance-free sum that can be used for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
With digitisation, only the medium changes - instead of the current paper vouchers, meal voucher operators will issue a card (physical or virtual) for each employee. Employers make monthly transfers to the cards via an online platform and employees can spend their e-vouchers in a wide network of shops and restaurants.
What is the legal framework?
Changes related to food vouchers are regulated by amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act (CITA), published in the State Gazette on 1 August 2023.
On 28.11.2023, amendments to Regulation 7 of the Ministry of Finance were published, regulating the start of the electronic meal vouchers on 1 January 2024.
What is the transition from paper to electronic meal vouchers?
In order to start providing digital food vouchers, you will need to have a contract for the new service with Pluxee Bulgaria. For your convenience, this can happen entirely online. The contract can be signed in advance, and the migration to digital vouchers can happen whenever you choose by June 30, 2024.
You can contact your account manager, call 0700 40 700*, or fill in an offer request to get information on the steps required. The process is quick, easy and can be done entirely online.
How can I start providing electronic meal vouchers for my team if I haven't provided this benefit before?
If you haven't worked with Pluxee Bulgaria before, you can submit a quote request or call 0700 40 700*. A sales representative will contact you as soon as possible to provide you with a quote.
How long are paper food vouchers issued for?
Until 30 June 2024 Pluxee Bulgaria will continue to print paper vouchers under Regulation 7.
Can I provide cards to some employees and paper vouchers to others?
A company cannot provide electronic and paper vouchers to its employees at the same time. When you choose to switch to cards, this happens for all members of your team.
Will electronic meal vouchers be tax-free?
Yes. As well as paper vouchers, electronic vouchers will be tax-free for BGN 200 per month per employee. They can be used to buy food, groceries and non-alcoholic beverages from merhcants in the Pluxee Bulgaria network.
Will paper vouchers be valid after digitalization?
Yes. All paper vouchers issued until 30 June 2024 are valid until the expiry date written on each voucher. They will be accepted seamlessly in the merchant network of Pluxee Bulgaria.
What is the validity period of the e-vouchers?
Like paper vouchers, e-vouchers will have a validity of up to 1 year - the period within which they must be used. When your employee spends their vouchers, the system will automatically use the most recently loaded amount first. The card itself, on which the electronic vouchers are loaded, has a validity of 5 years, i.e. it is replaced every 5 years.
How do I order and reload e-vouchers?
Quickly and online!
Ordering and recharging of cards will happen through the Pluxee Bulgaria online card portal. After signing a contract with us and registering on the platform, you will be able to easily and conveniently order the cards for your employees as well as reload them with a few clicks every month.
How will employees keep track of the availability on their cards?
Easily through their mobile device!
After receiving their card, each employee will be able to install the Pluxee mobile app (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store) where they can quickly and easily find out the amount available on their card, track their transaction history or block their card if necessary.
How do I inform my employees about the upcoming changes?
After signing a contract with Pluxee Bulgaria, you will receive additional information to provide to your employees to save you time on more important things.
If you have a shop or a restaurant and want to start accepting payments with electronic vouchers, you can get in touch with us.
If you have more questions, feel free to contact us - we'd be happy to answer them.
