VIDEO // Moldovan MP says vacation vouchers available from January 1, 2026 represent tool meant to support development of tourism in rural areas, provides benefits to employees and employers

Employees starting from January 1, 2026, can benefit from vacation vouchers, in order to cover tourism expenses in rural accommodation structures of Moldova. Their value can be tax-deductible for employers, up to 50 per cent of the average monthly salary on the economy.

Following the amendments approved by parliament, the employer has the following options: to purchase vacation vouchers to offer to employees, to contract directly with tourist reception structures in rural areas, and to compensate for the expenses incurred by employees at these structures.

Victoria Belous, member of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), highlighted that vacation vouchers represented a tool meant to support the development of tourism in rural areas of Moldova and to provide benefits to employees and employers.

“Compensation for expenses incurred by employees in tourist reception structures in rural areas of Moldova, including the costs related to vacation vouchers, is up to 50 per cent of the average monthly salary on the economy annually. For the 2026 year, 50 per cent of the average monthly salary on the economy amounts to 8,700 lei,” said Victoria Belous.

The value of vacation vouchers is not subject to income tax, social security contributions, or mandatory health insurance premiums. However, if the amount exceeds the deductible value of the vacation vouchers, it will be taxed on general principles like salary payments: income tax, social security contributions, mandatory health insurance premiums.

“The legal framework does not set limits for the minimum or maximum value of a vacation voucher. The employer is entitled to incur expenses during the fiscal period in relation to the same employee, both for compensating costs incurred by the employee in tourist reception structures in rural areas, as well as expenses related to vacation vouchers. Their deductibility for tax purposes is examined cumulatively. For example, on the occasion of winter holidays, the company offers its employees vacation vouchers worth 1,500 lei. Subsequently, during the year, considering the final work performance, the employer compensates the employee’s accommodation expenses for a weekend at a specific tourist pension in the south of the country amounting to 2,500 lei. Thus, in this case, both expenses are tax deductible,” said Victoria Belous.

At the same time, the employer can provide vacation vouchers concurrently with gym memberships. They will be tax-deductible, if the cumulative value of vacation vouchers plus gym memberships for one employee does not exceed 50 per cent of the average monthly salary on the economy.

“Vacation vouchers can be granted to employees both at their primary workplace and at any secondary job. In case of return of the voucher by the employee to the employer, the employer is not entitled to compensate its value in cash. The vacation voucher is valid for one year from the date of issue,” noted Victoria Belous.

The conditions for managing the unutilized amount at the expiration of the vacation voucher’s validity are stipulated in the contract concluded between the operator and the employer. Thus, the employer must negotiate with the company that issued the vacation vouchers on how the unutilized balance within the validity period of the vouchers will be managed, whether it will be returned or not to the company that purchased the vacation vouchers.

If, at the expiration of the vacation voucher’s validity, the authorized operator returns the unutilized amount of the vacation voucher to the employer, this value is taken into account and included in the employer's gross income onn the fiscal period in which it was collected.

The deduction of expenses incurred by the employer for compensating employee expenses in tourist reception structures in rural areas of Moldova, including costs related to vacation vouchers, is permitted based on the following supporting documents: for taxpayers applying accrual accounting ‒ the tax invoice, and for taxpayers applying cash accounting – the tax invoice and the supporting document regarding the actual payment of expenses.

The provisions aim to develop domestic and inbound tourism, promote the country as a tourist destination domestically and internationally, as well as ensure the provision of tourism services at international standards.





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