Process

Travelers should submit a meal per diem and incidental request (M&IE) for their supervisor’s approval through Workday via a Spend Authorization before traveling and an Expense Report for reimbursement after travel. PCards cannot be used for travel M&IE.

Domestic Meal Per Diem Breakdown

Domestic meal per diem breakdown refers to the breakdown of breakfast, lunch, and dinner components of the maximum daily reimbursement (per diem) rates for meals and incidental expenses while in travel status. The M&IE rates differ by travel location. View the per diem rate for your primary destination to determine which M&IE rates apply.

International Meal Per Diem

Current and past foreign per diem rates by location can be found on the United States Department of State (DOS) website. A breakdown can be found on the same website listed as FTR Appendix B.

Calculating M&IE

  1. Use itinerary to establish travel status and time frames. Use conference or meeting agenda to assist with determining pre-paid or hosted meals.
  2. Access travel timeframe table to determine appropriate meal allowance.
  3. Review GSA M&IE chart for appropriate per diem rates depending on location. 
    1. Domestic
    2. Foreign
    3. Non-Continental (Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.) 
  4. Add total to Spend Authorization in the justification field.

Calculating non-continental M&IE

  • Information on the current and past Non-Continental (Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.) per diems can be found on the Defense Travel Management Office website 
  • Select the country/state and the published date you traveled.
  • Breakdown
    • Add the local meals and local incidental together and go to the “FTR Appendix B” 
    • Look up the total amount and it will provide in order: breakfast, lunch, dinner and incidentals. Incidentals should match your “local incidental”.

Reference