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Administrative Policy & Procedures Manual » TRA Manual » 200 Pre-Travel Planning.

OSU TRA 206: Per Diem for Lodging, Meals & Incidental Expenses

Travel Policy & Procedures Manual
Section 200: Pre-Travel Planning
Effective: 02/01/1982
Revised: 10/25/2007

Purpose

To help determine the allowable per diem amount for travel on official university business.

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Applicability

All employees, students, official guests and volunteers traveling on official university business, regardless of the funding source.

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Policy

206-01 In-State Per Diem

When overnight lodging is required, travelers must contact department administration on departmental policy for lodging expenses. Departmental policy for lodging may be based on either approved lodging per diem or actual lodging receipts up to per diem amount. The selected method for reimbursement of lodging must be applied consistently to all travelers from the same department. Meal and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) are reimbursed at the meal per diem rate. There may be special requirements when traveling on grant funds. See Grant, Contract and Gift Accounting (GCG) Manual.

The traveler’s lodging location determines the daily per diem rate allowed. For the day the traveler leaves on a trip, the per diem rate specified for where the traveler will spend the night is used. When there is more than one lodging location during the trip, use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. For the day the traveler returns from the trip, the per diem rate specified for the last location where the traveler stayed overnight is used.

Lodging

Rates are shown in Section 11: Supplemental Travel - Summary of Travel Reimbursement Rates of the OUS Financial Administration Standard Operating Manual (FASOM). Room taxes are not included in the lodging per diem rate for cities in the contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. Report room taxes separately in “Other Expenses” on the OSU Travel Reimbursement Request form. See also TRA 102: Domestic Travel.

Lodging Exception for Portland Metropolitan Area

For the Portland Metropolitan Area lodging at actual and reasonable cost (lodging receipts required).

Conference Lodging Exception

See TRA 207: Conferences – Registration & Lodging

Non-Commercial Lodging

The intent of the non-commercial lodging per diem is to reimburse travelers using non-commercial facilities (e.g. travel trailer, motor home, or staying with friends or family members) and should result in an economic benefit for the university. The daily per diem is $25. No receipts are required. It is intended that the non-commercial lodging rate apply for any overnight stay away from home that does not take place in a commercial lodging facility, and which is provided for the employee.

Meal & Incidental Expense (M&IE)

M&IE per diem includes, but is not limited to, the cost of food, expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing, and fees or gratuities for services such as waiters and baggage handlers. Rates are shown in Section 11: Supplemental Travel - Summary of Travel Reimbursement Rates in FASOM.

M&IE Per Diem Allocation

  1. The traveler’s lodging location determines the per diem rate allowed.
  • On the day the trip begins…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip begins before 7:00 am, 75% if the trip begins between 7:00 am and 12:59 pm, or 50% of the per diem if the trip begins at 1:00 pm and later.
  • More than one lodging location during travel…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night.
  • On the day the trip concludes…use the specified rate for the last location the traveler spent the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip concludes at 6:00 pm or later, 50% of the per diem if the trip concludes between 12:00 pm (noon) and 5:59 pm, or 25% if the trip concludes prior to noon.
  1. Meals provided at a conference included in the conference registration fee are not to be claimed.
  2. Breakfast is not to be claimed when staying at a bed and breakfast, as it is considered part of the lodging cost rather than “complimentary.”
  3. Meals & Incidental Expenses per diem will not be reduced for a complimentary meal provided by a common carrier or hotel/motel.
  4. When a meal has been provided, or is not claimed, a deduction from the full daily rate is made using the following methodology established by OUS: Breakfast 25%, Lunch 25%, Dinner 50%

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206-02 Out-of-State Per Diem

When traveling out-of-state, and overnight lodging is required, travelers must contact department administration on departmental policy for lodging expenses. Departmental policy for lodging may be based on either approved lodging per diem or actual lodging receipts up to per diem amount.  The selected method for lodging reimbursement must be applied consistently to all travelers from the same department. Meal and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) are reimbursed at the meal per diem rate.  There may be special requirements when traveling on grant funds.  See Grant, Contract and Gift Accounting (GCG) Manual.

The traveler’s lodging location determines the daily per diem rate allowed. For the day the traveler leaves on a trip, the per diem rate specified for where the traveler will spend the night is used. When there is more than one lodging location during the trip, use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. For the day the traveler returns from the trip, the per diem rate specified for the last location where the traveler stayed overnight is used.

For travel to and within the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the OSU Lodging and M&IE per diem rates are the OUS approved rates, see the OUS FASOM - Section 11: Supplemental Travel – Summary of Travel Reimbursement Rates and Section 11.04: Travel -- Federal Out-of-State (Continental U.S.) High-Cost Localities Eligible Table.

For travel to or within Alaska and Hawaii, the OSU Lodging and M&IE per diem rates equal the federal rate using the Federal Specific Locality Table.

To obtain the correct rate table use the link on Business Affairs Travel Reimbursement website http://oregonstate.edu/fa/businessaffairs/travel/

These rates are also updated monthly in OSU Travel Reimbursement Entry System tables.

Lodging

Rates are shown in Section 11: Supplemental Travel - Summary of Travel Reimbursement Rates in FASOM. Room taxes are not included in the lodging per diem rate. Report room taxes separately in “Other Expenses” on the OSU Travel Reimbursement Request. See also TRA 102: Domestic Travel

Non-Commercial Lodging

The intent of the non-commercial lodging per diem is to reimburse travelers using non-commercial facilities (e.g. travel trailer, motor home, or staying with friends or family members) and should result in an economic benefit for the university. The daily per diem is $25. No receipts are required. It is intended that the non-commercial lodging rate apply for any overnight stay away from home that does not take place in a commercial lodging facility, and which is provided for the employee.

Meal & Incidental Expense (M&IE)

M&IE per diem includes but is not limited to the cost of food, expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing, and fees or gratuities for services such as waiters and baggage handlers. Rates are shown in Section 11: Supplemental Travel - Summary of Travel Reimbursement Rates in FASOM.

M&IE Per Diem allocation

  1. The traveler’s lodging location determines the per diem rate allowed.
  • On the day the trip begins…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip begins before 7:00 am, 75% if the trip begins between 7:00 am and 12:59 pm, or 50% of the per diem if the trip begins at 1:00 pm and later.
  • More than one lodging location during travel…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night
  • On the day the trip concludes…use the specified rate for the last location the traveler spent the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip concludes at 6:00 pm or later, 50% of the per diem if the trip concludes between 12:00 pm (noon) and 5:59 pm, or 25% if the trip concludes prior to noon.
  1. Meals provided at a conference included in the conference registration fee are not to be claimed.
  2. Breakfast is not to be claimed when staying at a bed and breakfast, as it is considered part of the lodging cost rather than “complimentary.”
  3. Meals & Incidental Expenses per diem will not be reduced for a complimentary meal provided by a common carrier or hotel/motel.
  4. When a meal has been provided, or is not claimed, a deduction from the full daily rate is made using the following methodology established by OUS: Breakfast 25%, Lunch 25%, Dinner 50%.

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206-03 Foreign Per Diem

When traveling in a foreign country, the traveler must contact department administration on departmental policy for lodging expenses.  Departmental policy for lodging may be based on either approved lodging per diem or actual lodging receipts up to per diem amount.  The selected method for lodging reimbursement must be applied consistently to all travelers from the same department. Meal and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) are reimbursed at the meal per diem rate.  Foreign travel includes US territories and possessions, use foreign travel account codes.  There may be special requirements when traveling on grant funds.  See Grant, Contract and Gift Accounting (GCG) Manual.

The OSU Lodging and M&IE per diem rates equal the federal rate using the Federal Specific Locality Table.

To obtain the correct rate table use the link on Business Affairs Travel Reimbursement website http://oregonstate.edu/fa/businessaffairs/travel/

These rates are also updated monthly in OSU Travel Reimbursement Entry System tables.

Lodging

Per diem rates are shown in Federal Specific Locality Table.

Room taxes are included in foreign (international) per diem rates, therefore, include applicable room taxes with the room rate when requesting reimbursement.

For US territories and possessions, room taxes are not included in the lodging per diem rate, report room taxes separately in “Other Expenses” on the OSU Travel Reimbursement Request

Non-Commercial Lodging

The intent of the non-commercial lodging per diem is to reimburse travelers using non-commercial facilities (e.g. travel trailer, motor home, or staying with friends or family members) and should result in an economic benefit for the university. The daily per diem is $25. No receipt is required. It is intended that the non-commercial lodging rate apply for any overnight stay away from home that does not take place in a commercial lodging facility, and which is provided for the employee.

Meal & Incidental Expense (M&IE)

M&IE per diem includes but is not limited to the cost of food, expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing, and fees or gratuities for services such as waiters and baggage handlers.

M&IE Per Diem allocation

The traveler’s lodging location determines the per diem rate allowed. For the day the traveler leaves on a trip, the per diem rate specified for where the traveler will spend the night is used. When there is more than one lodging location during the trip, use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. For the day the traveler returns from the trip, the per diem rate specified for the last location where the traveler stayed overnight is used.

  • On the day the trip begins…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip begins before 7:00 am, 75% if the trip begins between 7:00 am and 12:59 pm, or 50% of the per diem if the trip begins at 1:00 pm and later.
  • More than one lodging location during travel…use the specified rate for where the traveler will spend the night
  • On the day the trip concludes…use the specified rate for the last location the traveler spent the night. The traveler is eligible for 100% of the daily per diem if the trip concludes at 6:00 pm or later, 50% of the per diem if the trip concludes between 12:00 pm (noon) and 5:59 pm, or 25% if the trip concludes prior to noon.
  1. Meals provided at a conference included in the conference registration fee are not to be claimed.
  2. Breakfast is not to be claimed when staying at a bed and breakfast, as it is considered part of the lodging cost rather than “complimentary.”
  3. Meals & Incidental Expenses per diem will not be reduced for a complimentary meal provided by a common carrier or hotel/motel.
  4. When a meal has been provided, or is not claimed, a deduction from the full daily rate is made using the following methodology established by OUS: Breakfast 25%, Lunch 25%, Dinner 50%.

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Additional Information

For Qualified Oregon Lodging Establishments - See the State of Oregon Qualified Lodging List.

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