Food allowance exemption under Section 10

Great question! Here’s a clear explanation about food allowance exemption under Section 10:

1. Is exemption applicable only to food coupons or also to cash allowances?

• Section 10(14) and Rule 2BB of Income Tax Act provide exemption on food allowance given to employees.

• The exemption is specifically for food coupons or food concession provided by the employer.

• Cash food allowance given to employees is generally taxable and not exempt under Section 10.

So, only food coupons or food concession (non-cash benefits) enjoy exemption, not cash allowances labeled as "food allowance".

2. If the employer has not mentioned food allowance in Form 16 but meal allowance is shown in payslip, can the employee claim exemption in ITR?

• If the employer has not declared the allowance as exempt in Form 16 and instead has included it in salary (taxable income), then:

  • The employee cannot claim exemption separately in the ITR on that amount.

  • The tax department expects exemptions claimed to be consistent with Form 16.

• If the amount is shown as a taxable allowance in Form 16, it will be treated as taxable income and exemption cannot be claimed independently.

Summary:

Bottom line:
If your employer hasn’t shown food allowance as exempt in Form 16, and you received a cash meal allowance, you cannot claim exemption in your ITR on that allowance.

Section 10(14) generally does not apply to cash allowances for food; however, tax benefits will apply to employer-provided meal vouchers/food coupons for meals consumed during working hours, provided the appropriate conditions and limits are met. Cash allowances paid as a salary are generally taxable.

For your second question, if your employer has classified the meal allowance as taxable and you did not receive Form 16 showing that it is treated as exempt, you should generally not claim an exemption in your income tax return for the allowance unless you can demonstrate through legal and/or documentary evidence that the allowance is entitled to an exemption. Mismatches with Form 16 will result in greater scrutiny than if there were no mismatches.

If there is doubt regarding the employer's designation of the benefit (cash allowance versus meal card/voucher), you should contact the payroll/HR department before filing your return.

Clarifying the rule:

• The food exemption is not under Sec 10. It is under Rule 3(7)(iii): free food or non-alcoholic beverages provided by the employer during working hours (in office, or through non-transferable paid vouchers usable only at eating joints) are not a taxable perquisite up to Rs 50 per meal. The draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 propose a higher limit, so check the final rule for tax year 2026-27.

• A cash "meal allowance" or "food allowance" paid with salary is fully taxable. It is not exempt under Sec 10(14), since it is not one of the prescribed allowances in Rule 2BB.

• So if your payslip shows a cash meal allowance and Form 16 has taxed it, you cannot claim an exemption in the ITR. Only employer-provided meals or meal cards (Sodexo/Zeta/Pluxee) qualify, and the employer applies the exemption in Form 16.

• Regime: Rule 3(7)(iii) is a perquisite valuation rule, so it applies in both regimes. Meal cards remain useful under the new regime.