What are in-kind benefits?

In-kind benefits — also known as in-kind income — are any employee benefits that are not direct cash payments, such as goods and services. They are part of an employee's overall compensation package and can meet various personal and professional needs, contributing to a more comprehensive and attractive compensation package.

Note that this type of income is usually considered taxable, with the monetary value of the benefits assessed and included in the employee's overall taxable income.

Examples of in-kind benefits

Examples of in-kind benefits can include:

Health insurance. Employers often provide health insurance plans as a key in-kind benefit, covering medical, dental, and vision care for employees and their families.
A company car. This benefit can save employees significant transportation costs.
Meal vouchers or free meals. Employers may offer meal vouchers for remote employees or provide free meals at the workplace, helping employees save on daily food expenses.
Housing. Some companies provide housing or housing allowances, especially for employees who need to relocate for their job.
Tuition reimbursement. This can cover financial assistance for the employee’s own educational expenses (such as course or tuition fees), or for a child’s school fees.
Childcare services. Access to on-site childcare or subsidized childcare costs can be a valuable benefit for working parents.
Fitness and wellness memberships. Gym memberships and wellness programs promote the health and wellbeing of your workforce, benefiting both parties.

Advantages of in-kind benefits

There are numerous pros to offering in-kind benefits, for both employers and employees. For businesses, it can:

Help attract top talent. Offering in-kind benefits can help attract top candidates by enhancing your overall compensation package.
Boost retention. In-kind benefits can improve job satisfaction and employee morale, leading to increased productivity and loyalty.
Provide tax advantages. Some in-kind benefits may carry tax advantages for both employers and employees, depending on local tax laws and regulations.
Increase work-life balance. Benefits such as childcare services and flexible working arrangements can help employees achieve a better work-life balance, reducing stress and burnout.

For employees, in-kind benefits can help with:

Cost savings. In-kind benefits can reduce personal expenses for employees, increasing their effective take-home pay.
Health and wellbeing. Benefits like health insurance, fitness memberships, and wellness programs contribute to overall physical and mental wellbeing.
Professional development. Tuition reimbursement and educational assistance can encourage and support continuous learning and career growth.
Convenience. Benefits such as company cars and on-site services offer convenience, and can simply make your employees' daily lives easier.

In-kind benefits