SE16040 - Vouchers and credit-tokens: what is a non- cash voucher?

Section 141(7) ICTA 1988

For a description of the points to consider in a case involving vouchers or credit-tokens see SE16030.

Section 141 gives a very wide meaning to a non-cash voucher. It includes not only conventional retail vouchers of the sort widely available from High Street stores but also “any voucher, stamp or similar document or token”. This definition may therefore catch documents in letter form as well as plastic discs or tokens inserted into machines.

The voucher, however, needs to be capable of being exchanged for goods and services. This implies a reciprocal giving up of the voucher in return for the receipt of goods or services. A pass that just had to be shown to obtain goods or services would not meet this condition. (But see SE16060 as regards transport vouchers and SE16070 as regards credit-tokens.)

A non-cash voucher is defined so as to include a cheque voucher ( SE16050) and a transport voucher ( SE16060). As regards meal vouchers, see SE16210.

For details of when a Schedule E charge arises on a non-cash voucher see SE16045.