Will food cards continue to be used to make purchases?

He wonders if meal cards, which have increased in use in markets due to rising cost of living, will be used to buy groceries starting January 1, 2023.

It was said in some media news that a new era will be entered from January 1, and these cards will now be used for food only and cannot be used for grocery shopping or any other reason.

Consequently, it was indicated that if the worker uses his food card in the markets from the new year, the employer will not be able to benefit from the exceptional fiscal support.

According to the information Sozcu.com.tr received from Multinet Up, Edenred Turkey and Setcard, which provide corporate meal card services, meal cards used for grocery purchases until now will continue to be used in the same way.

THERE IS NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO THE MARKETS

A corporation official stated that according to information he received from his company’s legal department, there was a media misunderstanding on the issue and it was said that these cards would continue to be used in the markets.

The two board members of the Food Retailers Association and Istanbul Retailers Association (PERDER) contacted by Sozcu.com.tr claimed that no official letter was sent to their parties regarding such practice, and that they They themselves had heard the news in some media.

Both managers indicated that they reached the corresponding official offices and questioned whether the matter was true.

MEAL CARD ASSOCIATION: NOTHING CHANGES

On the other hand, Öner Piyade, president of the Meal Card Association, speaking to Anadolu Agency, made a statement on the news that meal cards cannot be used in markets, “Nothing has changed on meal cards. food”.

In a statement to AA on the subject, the infantryman said:

“The issue that the use of meal cards in restaurants and markets other than meals and ready-to-eat foods is not subject to tax exemption is regulated in the General Statement of Tax Procedure Law No. 382, ​​which It was published in 2008 and is still valid. In this context, the new legislation on the food salary delivered to employees as of December 1, 2022 does not bring a different regulation to the current legislation.

WHAT HAPPENED?

After the news that a new regulation on the use of food cards in the markets would come into force from the new year, it was a matter of debate whether it was true or not.

It was indicated that if these cards are used in the markets after the new year, the employer will not be able to exempt the amount paid from the insurance premium and will pay the tax.

According to food retailers, the use of these cards in brands has peaked during the pandemic, but is again seeing a significant increase due to the increase in the cost of living recently.

Most of the citizens, whose salaries are decreasing day by day in an environment of high inflation, buy food and all their necessities through these cards.