This is very topical for me as I'm considering offers at a couple of companies this week and was trying to estimate Y for each, since they have pretty different

This is very topical for me as I'm considering offers at a couple of companies this week and was trying to estimate Y for each, since they have pretty different benefits. One of them has catered breakfast and lunch. It sounds like a great perk but in Canada* in-kind benefits, including meals, are considered part of your salary, and are subject to income tax. I'm not sure how that plays out with daily catered meals; am I deemed to have received the benefit even if I eat out or bring leftovers? I could be paying taxes on food I haven't eaten. Probably not cheap food either. I'd prefer being paid in cash, and having the option to buy meal vouchers. That's true of most benefits - cash is always more flexible. There's also what it says about the culture: we offer free breakfast because we expect you to be at the office before your usual breakfast time. We offer free lunch because we don't expect you to have enough time to go out for lunch, or to pack a lunch the night before. *For federal income tax. YMMV on provincial tax. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/t4130-employers-guide-taxable-benefits-allowances/employers-guide-taxable-benefits-allowances.html#subsidized https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publi...