Use the allowance per working day. A meal card or voucher has a higher exempt limit (70% more) than cash. The working days (22 by default) are only the days actually worked.
| Exempt limit per day | €10.46 |
| Exempt part per day | €10.20 |
| Monthly total | €224.40 |
| Exempt part for the month | €224.40 |
| Most you can receive tax-free per month | €230.01 |
The whole allowance is within the limit, so it is exempt from IRS and Social Security.
Estimate for employees in mainland Portugal, with the 2026 limits (€6.15 in cash, €10.455 by card). It does not cover meals provided in kind (canteen) or limits set by a specific collective agreement.
Educational estimate, not advice. The €6.15 (cash) and €10.455 (card) limits and the 11% Social Security are official for 2026. It does not compute the IRS on the taxed part. Always check your payslip.
Meal Allowance Calculator 2026: Portugal by Calculadora Capital