Federal per diem rates consist of a maximum lodging allowance component and a meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) component. Most of CONUS (approximately 2,600 counties) is covered by the standard rate of $166 ($107 lodging, $59 M&IE).
People Also Ask
1. What is per diem? Per diem is an allowance paid to your employees for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred when travelling. This allowance is in lieu of paying their actual travel expenses.
The total per diem is the sum of the M&IE rate and the lodging rate. In other words: Total Per Diem = M&IE rate + Lodging rate. So, for example, if the M&IE rate for a specific location is $60 per day, and the lodging rate is $100 per day, the total per diem for that location would be $160 ($60 + $100).
For example, if an employee travels to a state where per diem is $139 per day, they will receive $130 for each day they stay there on business. For a four-day business trip, that would equal $520 in total.
The 2023 standard per diem for most of the US is $157, which breaks down to $98 for lodging and $59 for meals and incidentals. It's important to know that these rates fluctuate depending on the destination of travel, and they only cover the 48 states of the continental United States and the District of Columbia.
Per diem payments are not considered wages—and are therefore non-taxable—as long as they meet certain conditions. You will be subject to taxes if any of the following are true: Payment is more than the allowable federal per diem rate. You did not file an expense report with your employer.
A per diem is money that you get to spend on food and other incidentals (including tips and phone calls). If you are away on travel for more than 12 hours and more than 50 miles from home, then you are eligible for 3/4 per diem. If you are away less than 12 hours, you do not get per diem.