Business asked not to tax free meals for employees

The head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs asked the government not to tax free meals for workers

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs proposed not to tax lunches that companies provide to their employees. If the employer chooses to compensate employees for meals in cash, then this amount should not exceed 6.5 thousand rubles. per month

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), which brings together the richest Russian businessmen and major companies, suggested that the government consider changing legislation so as not to impose taxes and fees on lunches that employers provide to company employees for free. If the company chooses a scheme with compensation for food in cash, then payments to employees for these purposes should not exceed 6.5 thousand rubles. per month. This follows from a letter that Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs President Alexander Shokhin sent to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on March 31. RBC has a copy of the letter, its authenticity was confirmed by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

The letter was received by the government apparatus, the press service of the White House reported. It will be considered “in due course,” they added.

Shokhin proposes to amend the Tax Code, defining that subsidized meals for employees cannot be subject to taxes and insurance premiums. This will refer to the food itself, if the employer provides meals, and to monetary compensation if it does not exceed 6.5 thousand rubles. per employee per month.

This amount was calculated based on the practice of the work of the RSPP, RBC explained in the press service of the union. If the employer pays employees monetary compensation, then the meals must be organized “with the involvement of a public catering organization”, with which the company will have to conclude an agreement, the letter says. Thus, the employee will be able to spend money only in cafes or canteens with which the employer will conclude an agreement, says Yury Fedyukin, managing partner of the law firm Enterprise Legal Solutions. But the company has the right to conclude an agreement with several catering establishments, the number of outlets in the initiative is not regulated.