Income in kind (or benefits in kind) refers to non-monetary compensation: company cars, housing, meals, stock options, health insurance, or gym memberships provided by an employer.

Tax treatment varies significantly: employer pension contributions are tax-exempt in most EU countries; company cars are partially taxable in the UK and Germany based on CO2 emissions and list price; housing provided by an employer is generally taxable at market value.

When comparing total compensation across countries or employers, the value and tax treatment of benefits in kind can significantly affect the true net advantage of one offer over another.