[Breaking News] National Tax Agency to Implement Increase in Tax-Exempt Meal Subsidy Limit! Expanding from 3,500 JPY to 7,500 JPY per Month Starting April 1, 2026

The 'Association for Promoting the Relaxation of Meal Subsidy Limits' (led by Edenred Japan K.K.), consisting of 1,140 restaurants, companies providing meal subsidies, and service providers, announces that the National Tax Agency has issued a notification revising the tax-exempt limit for meal expenses from 3,500 JPY to 7,500 JPY per month, which came into effect on April 1, 2026. This revision, the first in 42 years since 1984, marks the transition into an operational phase for a system that supports the lives of workers and encourages human capital investment by companies. The background for this change is that the previous limit, set in 1984, no longer reflected current economic realities due to inflation and rising food prices. Edenred Japan has been actively lobbying for this change, which was eventually included in the 'Basic Policy 2025' and finalized in the tax reform outline of December 2025. This change allows companies to provide more substantial support to employees without increasing their tax burden, effectively increasing the employees' take-home pay. For example, a monthly subsidy of 7,500 JPY translates to 90,000 JPY annually, which is tax-exempt. Compared to a cash salary increase, this method is more tax-efficient for employees. Edenred Japan continues to provide support and information to companies to ensure the smooth implementation of this system.