How do I obtain a Meal Entertainment Card?

As long as your employer is already using Southgate, simply complete the following forms and submit them to Southgate to apply for a Southgate Meal Entertainment Card:

  • Southgate Salary Packaging Payment Card Application Form
  • ANZ Salary Packaging Cardholder Application Form


These forms can be returned to Southgate via:

  • Fax:         1300 500 150
  • Email:      support@southgatesalpack.com.au
  • Post:        Southgate Salary Packaging Services
                    PO Box 183
                    South Melbourne
                    VIC 3205


Your Meal Entertainment Card fringe benefit will be established for your next available paycycle or from a nominated future paycycle date. Once your first allocated Meal Entertainment funds have been transferred on to the Card, you may commence using your Meal Entertainment Card.


When will I receive my Meal Entertainment Card?

Cards are issued and dispatched within 3-5 business days of Southgate receiving the documentation. Delivery is subject to Australia Post’s service and delivery schedules for your location.


Where can the Meal Entertainment Card be used?

The Southgate Meal Entertainment Card can be used Australia-wide at any eligible ‘dining’ venue that accepts payment by VISA, by selecting the ‘credit’ option. ‘Eligibility’ of dining venues is based on their registered merchant category which is related to the provision of Meal Entertainment. Generally this should include ‘dine-in’ facilities such as restaurants, bistros, hotels or cafes.


Why has my Card been declined at a particular dining venue?

The ATO requires that the Southgate Meal Entertainment Card employs Merchant Blocking technology to prevent unlawful use of the Card or use at unauthorised or ineligible merchants.

This allows businesses/facilities to be blocked on the basis of their registered merchant category. There may be some businesses/facilities that provide eligible Meal Entertainment facilities but are incorrectly registered for merchant categorisation purposes, resulting in your Southgate Meal Entertainment Card being declined for authorisation by ANZ or VISA.


What should I do if I am not sure whether an expense is Meal Entertainment?

Where you are unsure whether a particular expense is eligible under the Southgate Meal Entertainment Program, you should not make payment using your Meal Entertainment Card. If you have a Southgate Expense Payment Card you may wish to use this for payment however please note this will contribute towards your FBT Capping Threshold and will be a Reportable fringe benefit.


Does the Meal Entertainment Card affect my ‘FBT Exempt Concession Threshold’?

Meal Entertainment is FBT Exempt and does not contribute to your FBT Capping Concession Threshold when packaged, so even if you have already utilised your whole Threshold on other fringe benefits, you may still achieve significant increased tax savings by packaging Meal Entertainment in addition to your existing packaged fringe benefits.


How much can I salary package towards the Card?

Meal Entertainment does not contribute to your FBT Capping Concession Threshold; therefore you can package as much of your salary towards this fringe benefit as you like, in accordance with any limits under your employer’s salary packaging policies.


When can I first use my Meal Entertainment Card?

Your Meal Entertainment Card fringe benefit will be established for your next available paycycle or from a nominated future paycycle date. Once your first allocated Meal Entertainment funds have been transferred on to the Card, you may commence using your Meal Entertainment Card.


When will funds be available on the card?

Funds will be available on your Meal Entertainment Card within 24-48 hours of Southgate receiving your scheduled paycycle deduction from your employer.


How is the Card balance calculated?

Upon establishing a Meal Entertainment Card fringe benefit, you must nominate an annual or paycycle amount that you would like to package towards the Card. This amount is deducted in equal instalments each paycycle and allocated towards your Meal Entertainment Card. Your Card balance represents funds set aside for your Meal Entertainment Card, less the value of any purchases made on the Card or funds returned to your packaging account or employer’s payroll.


How can I check my Card balance?

You can check your balance via any of the following methods:



Will I receive transaction statements?

No, transaction statements are not automatically issued by ANZ or Southgate for the Meal Entertainment Card. You may however access your Monthly Transaction Statement (per cardholder) and Live Transaction History online via the ANZ Web Portal. In addition, all transactions are reported on the Southgate Salary Packaging Web Portal under your employee login (although some transactions may not be reported for up to 2 business days).


Can I Deposit or Withdrawal funds from the card?

No, you cannot make any direct deposits or withdrawals from the Card. All deposits and withdrawals can only be made by Southgate under your salary packaging arrangement.


Can I obtain additional cards?

You may obtain secondary cards for additional users (eg. spouse) of your Meal Entertainment Card fringe benefit. Each additional cardholder must be aged between 18 and 80 years. The funds allocated to your Meal Entertainment Card are accessible by both the primary and additional cardholder(s). There is not a separate balance or funds available to any additional cardholder(s). All secondary cardholders must complete an ANZ Salary Packaging Cardholder Application Form and return it to Southgate.


Do I still need to collect receipts?

Yes, however these only need to be provided to Southgate in the event of a random Southgate audit or as required by the ATO. You should collect and retain an itemised invoice and receipt for every purchase made on your Meal Entertainment Card, as these may be requested from time to time for audit and compliance purposes.


What is the administration fee on the card?

You should refer to your employer’s Salary Packaging Handbook for Employees to confirm any fees that may apply for provision of the Meal Entertainment Card.


Is there any account keeping or transaction fees on the card?

There are currently no fees charged by ANZ for provision of the Southgate Meal Entertainment Card (including monthly, annual, account keeping, or transaction fees or interest charges).


Can I use the card overseas?

No, the Meal Entertainment Card cannot be used for purchases/payments made outside of Australia.


What do I need to do to dispute a transaction?

You must notify Southgate (during business hours on 1300 132 500) or ANZ (via ANZ Web Portal under ‘My Requests’ section) of a disputed transaction and within 75 days of the transaction.


What should I do if my card is lost or stolen?

Where your Meal Entertainment Card is lost or stolen, you must immediately notify a Southgate Customer Service Representative (during business hours on 1300 132 500) or contact ANZ 24/7 to cancel the existing Card(s) and arrange replacement(s).


Can I change the amount salary packaged towards the Meal Entertainment Card?

Yes, by contacting Southgate and making a written request to amend your salary package, you can change the amount salary packaged towards your Meal Entertainment Card.


What is the spending limit on my Meal Entertainment Card?

There is no daily spending limit on your card, it is only restricted to your available Meal Entertainment Card funds balance at the time of the transaction.


What if I don’t spend my allocated funds each paycycle?

Any unspent funds each paycycle will accrue towards your Meal Entertainment Card for future use, as and when you use the card for eligible meal entertainment expenses.


What happens at the end of each FBT year?

At the end of each FBT Year (31st March) any remaining funds in your card account are rolled over for use in the following FBT Year. Where any funds are rolled over into the new FBT Year, your regular salary deductions towards the Meal Entertainment Card fringe benefit will continue at the usual deduction amount.


How do I terminate my Meal Entertainment Card?

You may elect to cease salary packaging the Meal Entertainment Card at any time by providing at least 7 days written notice to Southgate. Upon receiving your written notice, your Meal Entertainment Card(s) will be cancelled immediately.


What happens if I terminate my employment?

You must inform Southgate immediately upon terminating your current employment, complete and return to Southgate a Notice of Termination of Salary Packaging Form and immediately cease using your Meal Entertainment Card(s).

Upon Southgate receiving notice of your employment termination, your Meal Entertainment Card(s) will be cancelled and any remaining funds in your card account will be held by Southgate for a period of up to 14 days before being returned to your employer’s Payroll Department.


Do I need a password to access my account information?

Yes, when making a Meal Entertainment Card account enquiry via ANZ telephone or Web Portal, you will need to use your Security Code. This Security Code is initially nominated by you on the ANZ Salary Packaging Cardholder Application Form. Each cardholder nominates their own separate Security Code on this Form, to be used for identification and verification.


Optional SMS Service: balance notification

You may also subscribe to our SMS Alert service that will send an SMS to your mobile phone each time an income deduction is received on your card, including the new current balance of the card.