As announced earlier this year, the State of Illinois has begun utilizing the domestic per diem rates and rules set by the General Services Administration (GSA). While we are all happy to see the per diem rates increase, a few of the accompanying changes have led to some confusion, so we would like to clarify.
What Stayed the Same?
- Per diem is allowed for travel days while you are away from your designated workplace.
- Per diem is only allowed when an overnight stay is included.
- If a meal was provided to you (conference meals, meal on a flight, business meal with outside guests that you or they paid for, breakfast provided by the hotel, etc.), you must mark those meals as deductions.
- Employees on travel status must claim per diem.
What Changed?
- The amount of per diem you receive is no longer calculated based on travel times.
- The day you leave your headquarters and the day you travel back to your headquarters should both be marked as a Travel Day.
- This will provide you with 75% of the day’s allotment.
- Only mark the first and last day of travel as Travel Days.
- The 75% rate applies regardless of how much of the day was spent traveling.
- A $5 incidental amount has been added to your daily total to cover the cost of hotel housekeeping, bellhops, or other baggage handlers.
Helpful Hint: If you are not requesting per diem for a travel day, please note that in your report.
We hope this helps clarify the new per diem guidelines and reduces returned reports.
Contact
If you have questions, please submit a Service Request Form to University Payables.
