Employees to be able to benefit from vacation vouchers; Moldovan Finance Ministry announces conditions for providing vouchers

Employees will be able to benefit from vacation vouchers, to cover tourist expenses in accommodation facilities in rural areas of Moldova. Their value can be tax-deductible by employers, within the limit of 50 per cent of the average monthly salary per economy.

The Finance Ministry said that the measure would come into effect starting from the 2026 fiscal year. The vouchers can be issued in electronic format or on paper, as a ticket or card with a nominal value, by authorized operators and will be valid for one year as of the date of issuance.

For employees, amounts granted in the form of vouchers will be considered non-taxable income and will be exempt from income tax, as well as social and health insurance contributions, within the same limits.

The legislative regulations regarding vacation vouchers and the necessary steps for the effective implementation of the new tax facility were analyzed at an event organized by the Finance Ministry, together with the Ministry of Culture and the National Association of Restaurants and Leisure Locations (MAR), in partnership with the Employers' Association of the Tourism Industry of Moldova (APIT) and the Information and Promotion Center in the Field of Tourism from Moldova. The event brought together representatives of tourist guesthouses, travel agencies and the business environment.

Participants analyzed the role of vacation vouchers in promoting domestic tourism, aspects related to cost deduction, challenges and opportunities for operators in the field, as well as support programmes available for entrepreneurs in rural areas.

Vacation vouchers represent a fiscal instrument aimed at supporting the local economy and providing benefits to employees, without creating a direct fiscal burden. According to authorities, this is a public policy measure that stimulates rural tourism, encourages spending within the country and contributes to the development of local communities.