What are service vouchers and how can they be used to pay for domestic help?
Practical information: one service voucher corresponds to one hour of work. The task list must fit within the agreed time and apply only to a private household. The client provides safe, ergonomic equipment and suitable cleaning products. Any administrative costs and cancellation rules are set out in the Angels@Home client agreement; late cancellation may result in charges in line with that agreement.
Managing household duties requires excellent time organization, which is often lacking in the daily rush. In response to these needs, the legal system in Belgium has introduced a solution that enables efficient and safe financing of cleaning work. Service vouchers are an official method of payment for selected household services, such as cleaning, ironing, and other permitted tasks performed by recognized dienstencheque undertakings. The use of this mechanism makes maintaining cleanliness easier, fully legal, and transparent in cost for every resident.
What are service vouchers?
Service vouchers, known as dienstencheques, are a convenient payment method for private individuals in Belgium that allows them to pay for selected household services performed by recognized dienstencheque undertakings. Thanks to them, clients can legally use help with cleaning, ironing, laundry, or other permitted household tasks without cash payments and without handling formal employment procedures on their own.
In the simplest terms, one service voucher corresponds to one hour of work performed in the household. The client purchases vouchers through the official system and then uses them to settle the work performed by a recognized dienstencheque undertaking. The entire mechanism is designed to make access to legal domestic help easier and to reduce the risk of informal settlements.
The key principles of service vouchers can be summarized as follows:
• For private individuals Vouchers are intended for individual clients who need support in their home.
• For selected household services They can be used to pay for cleaning, ironing, laundry, and other activities allowed within the system.
• Through recognized dienstencheque undertakings Services must be performed by entities licensed to accept service vouchers.
• Without cash payments Settlement is handled through the official system, increasing transparency and safety of cooperation.
• With a clear time conversion rate One voucher equals one hour of domestic work performed.
Dienstencheques is a special, state-supported system that organizes the relationship between the client, the service company, and the domestic worker.
For the client, the greatest advantage is simplicity. There is no need to calculate taxes, negotiate wages, or organize employment contracts. The value of the voucher is defined within the system, and all formalities remain on the side of authorized entities. As a result, using household assistance becomes more accessible, predictable, and safe.
Service vouchers are therefore a practical solution for people who want to keep their home clean while also valuing legal, organized, and convenient cooperation. The dienstencheques system eliminates random settlements and ensures greater certainty that the service will be performed according to applicable regulations.
Who can use service vouchers in Belgium?
Service vouchers can be used by private individuals who meet the conditions of the system in a given region of Belgium. Therefore, for content related to Flanders, it is important to refer to Flemish regulations. Each province has autonomy in defining limits and registration procedures, which affects everyday use of the program.
Access to this facility is governed by clear system guidelines:
• Individual clients The right to purchase vouchers is granted only to private individuals for personal use, meaning that no commercial entity, company, or corporation may use them for office cleaning services.
• Client residence location Eligibility rules and benefits depend directly on the place of registration, which is why the Angels@Home website targets residents of Flanders, subject to Flemish distribution regulations.
• User registration Every interested person must first register in the official service system for Flemish dienstencheques, operated by Pluxee, formerly Sodexo. During registration, the user provides personal data to gain access to purchasing vouchers, managing them, and confirming completed services.
• Use of an authorized company After obtaining a personal client number, it is necessary to contact an authorized agency that is entitled to accept vouchers as a form of payment for domestic services.
Fulfilling these initial requirements opens the way to freely planning a schedule of visits in one’s household. The next step that facilitates smooth implementation of the system is becoming familiar with the detailed list of tasks that can be performed using these vouchers.
What household services can be paid for with service vouchers?
Service vouchers can be used to pay for selected household activities, mainly cleaning, ironing, laundry, and other services permitted within the system. The legislation precisely defines the scope of activities to separate purely domestic work from other forms of assistance.
The main areas where vouchers can be legally used include:
• House or apartment cleaning Regular vacuuming, floor washing, dusting, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, meaning all activities related to maintaining hygiene and order.
• Ironing and household textiles Smoothing everyday clothing, workwear, bedding, towels, and tablecloths, helping to keep wardrobes in verzorgd condition.
• Laundry and simple household tasks Loading and unloading the washing machine, hanging laundry, and caring for household textiles in accordance with program guidelines.
• Minor additional tasks Preparing simple meals or performing basic grocery errands in the immediate vicinity, provided that these activities directly support the client’s household.
It is important to remember that these regulations are restrictive, meaning that vouchers cannot be used for cleaning commercial premises, technical repairs, or garden maintenance. Strict adherence to the rules ensures full legal safety and allows stress-free use of the benefits of this government program.
Why is it worth using service vouchers for cleaning and ironing?
Service vouchers can simplify access to legally organized domestic help, especially for regular cleaning and ironing. This model eliminates organizational chaos and brings several measurable benefits that improve household comfort.
The main advantages of this solution include:
• Legal form of cooperation The client gains certainty that work is performed in compliance with the law, the employee is insured, and the transaction follows official VAT regulations and tax relief rules.
• Convenience for regular visits The system is ideal for ongoing assistance, allowing easy payment after each completed hour without the need to handle cash.
• Clear payment organization A fixed cost per voucher, defined by the state, makes the basic voucher payment transparent; any additional costs must be specified in the client agreement, giving full control over monthly cleaning expenses.
• Access to trusted companies Cooperation with a licensed agency guarantees professional recruitment of staff and replacement in case of illness or absence of a worker.
To fully appreciate the value of this state instrument, it is worth comparing it with alternative payment models.
Payment outside the voucher system, based on private agreements, places full responsibility on the property owner for verifying workers, negotiating rates, and dealing with sudden absences. It is also often associated with tax and legal risks, as determining whether a given service is taxable can be complicated for private individuals.
A different situation occurs when companies issue employee vouchers or gift vouchers financed from social funds – in the case of household services in Belgium, the state subsidizes each voucher for a specific service, making the system exceptionally cost-effective. In traditional trade, different voucher types or varying VAT rates can make transaction classification difficult, and the tax obligation arises at the moment of goods delivery. In the dienstencheques system, everything is simplified to the maximum.
In contrast, payment via dienstencheques is a highly secure, organized, and subsidized model in which the agency takes over all payroll and administrative responsibilities. The client receives a clean home without worrying about formalities and additionally gains the possibility to deduct part of the expenses from annual income tax.
Choosing this method of financing household cleaning ensures a verzorgd balance between time savings and full legal security. Delegating responsibilities to Angels@Home specialists using service vouchers is the most convenient way to maintain a spotless home under clear and transparent conditions.