A service voucher is a voucher that you can use to buy household services. In Belgium, the system was introduced in 2004, mainly to reduce undeclared work. In addition, the system is also a good incentive to get low-skilled people out of unemployment on the labor market.

This system did not miss its purpose. In the domestic work sector, there is hardly any undeclared work, and more people than ever are happy that they can use a service voucher to relieve themselves.

What can you use these service vouchers for?

Individuals can buy service vouchers for 9 euros per hour worked. Depending on your family situation, there is a maximum number of vouchers that you can purchase per year. With these service vouchers, you can then put people to work for a number of household tasks. Although most people automatically think of cleaning, domestic helpers are also asked for the following tasks:

• Laundry
• Ironing
• shopping
• preparing meals
• assistance with movements
• ...

Why is the service voucher so advantageous?

The actual value of one service check is 23.48 euros in Flanders*. Yet a consumer only pays 9 euros per service voucher. In addition, there is a tax advantage of up to 20%**, which means that the price is even lower. This is possible because the government stimulates the service voucher system with subsidies. Service voucher companies are reimbursed extra by the government for each service voucher brought in, which makes it easier for such a company to offer household workers permanent contracts.

The voucher gives consumers time to do other business instead of housework. In this way, the investment of the government largely flows back to society. The service voucher is a clear win-win-win for household worker, consumers and society. 

*The actual value is 23.86 euros in Wallonia and 23.60 euros in the Brussels-Capital Region.

**In Flanders, the tax advantage is 20% on de first 170 service vouchers. In Wallonia, this is 10% on the first 150 service vouchers. In the Brussels-Capital region, this is 15% on the first 163 service vouchers.

What's the price of a service voucher?

The price of a service voucher is 9 euros. After-tax relief, it's only 6.30 euros.

If you, as an individual user, have already purchased 400 vouchers on the same user number during the calendar year, you will pay 10 euros for the additional wouchers.

In a family situation, you can avoid this by purchasing service vouchers with a new user number in the name of your partner.

Where can I order my service vouchers?

The official issuer of the service vouchers is Sodexo. You can order your service vouchers on their website. 

How long are service vouchers valid?

Service vouchers are valid for 8 months.

Additional information can be found on https://dienstencheques.vlaanderen.be/