Per Diem

Per Diem is the maximum daily subsistence allowance authorized under the federal per diem rates for lodging and meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) incurred on business travel assignments. For eligible per diem travel, receipts are not required for lodging, meals and incidentals. However it is recommended that a log of costs be maintained by the traveler to document those expenditures. Reimbursement should be based on actual expenses, not to exceed the daily maximum per diem rate.

Domestic Contiguous United States (CONUS) travel assignments –

  • Less than 30 days: No per diem allowance.
    See Request Travel Reimbursement for additional information and instructions.
  • 30 days or more:
    For domestic travel assignments of 30 days or more within the continental United States, reimbursement for lodging and meals/incidental expenses is limited to the daily maximum per diem rates established by the General Services Administration: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287. 

    Federal per diem rates for CONUS travel do not include taxes on lodging, which may be reimbursed separately.

Travel within Alaska, Hawaii, and United States possessions (OCONUS) of any duration less than one year –

Foreign travel assignments –

  • Less than 30 days:
    Foreign travel reimbursement rates are set by the U.S. State Department. The maximum federal limits by location may be found at: http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp
  • 30 days up to one year:
    The per diem maximum reimbursement rates authorized for long-term travel are set by the U.S. State Department—rates by location can be found at: http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp. Refer to the UCOP Travel Policy G-28 for additional information on long-term travel.

The incidental expense portion of the federal per diem rate includes:

  • Fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, bellhops, hotel maids, stewards or stewardesses and others on ships, and hotel servants in foreign countries
  • Transportation between places of lodging or business and places where meals are taken, if suitable meals cannot be obtained at the temporary duty site
  • Mailing costs associated with filing travel vouchers and payment of University-sponsored charge card billings

UCOP Travel Policy Summary:

http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/policies/bfb/g28summary.pdf

UCOP Travel Policy G-28:

http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/3420365/BFB-G-28

  • See Section V.E. for additional information regarding Subsistence Expenses
  • For current lodging and M&IE reimbursement maximum rates see Appendix B