Tax-Exempt Meal Allowance Expanded by Approximately Double After 40 Years; miive's "Meal Support Plan" Sees Around 50 New Adoptions Since February Launch

On April 1, the government and ruling parties announced a decision to raise the tax-exempt limit for meal expenses from 3,500 yen to 7,500 yen per month in the 2026 Tax Reform Outline. This is a significant revision, the first in 40 years, and is attracting attention as a measure to support household finances amidst rising food costs.

Furthermore, this system is expected to be utilized as a new "third wage increase measure" for companies, in addition to salary increases, by enhancing employees' disposable income through tax-exempt welfare benefits.

◾️Partial Amendment to the "Establishment of Income Tax Basic Circular" (Legal Interpretation Circular) https://www.nta.go.jp/law/tsutatsu/kihon/shotoku/kaisei/260331/index.htm

【Key Points of the 2026 Tax Reform Outline: 'Tax-Exempt Meal Allowance System'】

Tax-exempt limit for meal expenses raised from 3,500 yen/month → 7,500 yen/month (2.1 times)

Implementation date: April 1, 2026

First revision of the tax-exempt limit increase in 40 years since 1984

A household support measure that “supports companies and employees tax-free” rather than a salary revision

Applicable regardless of the presence of an employee cafeteria, including external bento, takeout, and restaurant use

In response to these developments, miive has begun offering the "miive Meal Support Plan" to meet welfare benefit needs, including meal subsidies. In the two months since its launch in February, approximately 50 new companies, primarily medium to large enterprises, have adopted the plan. Furthermore, more than one-third of the several hundred companies that have already adopted the paid "miive Standard Plan" are utilizing meal subsidies.

With this plan, companies can utilize tax benefits while minimizing administrative burden for welfare benefit operations, thanks to cashless payments limited to meal purposes and visualization of usage status.

Additionally, the "miive Standard Plan," which supports meals, learning, childcare, and internal communication, can also accommodate the expanded tax-exempt limit by reviewing meal expense budget settings.

About "miive Meal Support": https://miive.jp/lite-plan

Inquiries about adoption and services: https://miive.jp/request

◾️Media Broadcast Announcement

On March 30, NHK's "Shutoken Network" featured an example of meal support from Rococo Co., Ltd., a miive user (around 23:00~).

https://www.web.nhk/tv/an/shutoken-net/pl/series-tep-MX1YJ59WZ8/ep/PM76WR57ML

About the employee benefits platform "miive"

miive is a new point-based employee benefits platform that can be used nationwide and worldwide, utilizing cards and apps. Companies can set where and how points can be used and grant them, and employees can use points simply by making payments with a dedicated card. It supports various challenges such as strengthening employee還元 in response to inflation, differentiating from other companies in recruitment and retention, realizing employee benefits without regional disparities, and reviewing existing allowances. With a monthly employee usage rate exceeding 90% and real-time usage status visible on the management screen, it realizes truly utilized employee benefits, thereby achieving valuable human investment.

【Company Profile】

Trade Name: miive Inc.

Established: July 2, 2020

Representative: Ren Kurita, Representative Director

Head Office: 16F Link Square Shinjuku, 5-27-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Business Activities: Development and operation of the employee benefits platform "miive"

URL: https://corp.miive.jp/