Business travel is an essential part of many companies’ operations. Whether it’s attending a conference, meeting clients, or conducting site visits, business travel allows companies to expand their reach and grow their business. However, traveling for work can be expensive, and that’s where per diem rates come in.
What are Per Diem Rates?
Per diem rates are daily allowances paid by employers to employees to cover their expenses while traveling for work. These rates typically cover meals, lodging, and incidental expenses like transportation and tips. Per diem rates are designed to make it easier for employees to manage expenses while traveling and to reduce the burden on employers to track and reimburse each expense individually.
How are Per Diem Rates Determined?
Per diem rates are determined by the General Services Administration (GSA) in the United States. The GSA sets per diem rates for each location based on the average cost of meals, lodging, and incidental expenses in that area. The rates are updated annually to reflect changes in the cost of living and other factors.
What are the Business Travel Per Diem Rates for 2022?
The business travel per diem rates for 2022 have not yet been released by the GSA. However, it’s expected that the rates will be similar to the rates for 2021, which were:
Location | Meals | Lodging | Incidental Expenses | Total |
Atlanta, GA | $71 | $146 | $5 | $222 |
Chicago, IL | $76 | $161 | $5 | $242 |
Denver, CO | $71 | $152 | $5 | $228 |
New York City, NY | $76 | $292 | $5 | $373 |
It’s important to note that these rates are maximums, and employees are not required to spend the full amount. Employers can also choose to pay a lower per diem rate if they want to.
How to Claim Per Diem Expenses?
Employees can claim per diem expenses by submitting their receipts to their employer. The receipts should show the amount spent on meals, lodging, and incidental expenses. If the employee does not have receipts for some expenses, they can use the per diem rate as a substitute.
Employers can also choose to use a per diem allowance instead of reimbursing actual expenses. In this case, the employee would receive a set amount each day for meals, lodging, and incidental expenses, regardless of how much they actually spent. This can simplify the reimbursement process for both the employer and employee.
Conclusion
Per diem rates are an important part of business travel, as they help employees manage their expenses and reduce the burden on employers to track and reimburse each expense individually. While the business travel per diem rates for 2022 have not yet been released, it’s expected that they will be similar to the rates for 2021. Employees can claim per diem expenses by submitting their receipts to their employer, or employers can choose to use a per diem allowance instead.