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Change to meal contributions in the Czech Republic | News Flash

January 8, 2025
This article is also available in
Czech

The Czech Labour Code (Act No. 262/2006 Coll.) does not establish an obligation for the employer to contribute to the employee’s meals, but only an obligation to provide a break for food and rest, no later than after 6 hours of work. The employer can therefore provide meal contributions in the Czech Republic to his employees in any amount.

According to the Act on Income Taxes (Act No. 586/1992 Coll.), meal allowance on the part of the employee is exempt from tax up to 70% of the upper limit of the per diems, which can be provided to employees during a business trip lasting 5 to 12 hours.

Decree No. 475/2024 Coll. sets this year’s per diems rates for the non-business sector for a business trip lasting 5 to 12 hours at a maximum of CZK 177. On the employee’s side, the meal allowance is thus exempt from tax and insurance premiums up to CZK 123.90 per shift worked.

As of 2024, as a result of the Czech consolidation package, the conditions for exempting the employer’s contribution for all three forms of employee meals (monetary meal allowance, meal vouchers or the option to visit own facility – canteen) have been unified. In order for the contribution to be tax-free for an employee, the following conditions must be met:

  • at least 3 hours must be worked during the shift,
  • no entitlement to per diems may arise during the shift,
  • the amount of the contribution is up to 70% of the upper limit of the meal allowance for a business trip lasting 5 to 12 hours, i.e. 70 % of CZK 177 (CZK 123.90).

For employees who work more than 11 hours, it is possible to provide double the amount.

For tax deductibility for the employer, the entitlement has to arise based on the internal regulation, collective agreement or employment contract.

Example: An employer provides employees with a meal voucher in the amount of CZK 200 per 8-hour shift worked. The employee does not contribute to the meal voucher. The claim to a meal voucher is based on an internal directive.r, the entitlement has to arise based on the internal regulation, collective agreement or employment contract.

Example: An employer provides employees with a meal voucher in the amount of CZK 200.

  2024 2025
Exempt income CZK 116.20 CZK 123.90
Taxable income CZK 83.80 CZK 76.10
Non-deductible expense of the employer CZK 0 CZK 0
Lan Anh Mai
Senior Tax Consultant | Accace Czech Republic
Get in touch with us
Kateřina Hrůzová
Tax Director | Accace Czech Republic
Book a meeting with Kateřina
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