1. Per Diem Allowances
Effective December 1, 2015 the daily per diem meal allowance rate for University of Massachusetts employees traveling on University business will correspond with the current rates listed by the General Services Administration (GSA).
The University has elected to follow all of the current GSA rates for University travel.
Per Diem rates are intended to cover the employee’s cost of meals and incidentals when engaged in official University travel/business.
Per Diem rates are based on the location of the lodging.

2. Per Diem Allowances
Domestic travel has 6 separate per diem rates for per diem for meals and incidentals (see GSA website ).
The per-diem allowance will not be granted to travelers that are provided meals as part of their official university business. The value of any meals provided while on travel status should be subtracted from per diem according to GSA Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) Breakdown.
Domestic Travel Meals Per Diem Rates – The University’s per diem for employees follows the GSA per diem rates which includes meals and incidentals.

3. Per Diem Allowances

4. Per Diem Allowances What’s Changed? What’s stayed the same?
6 separate per diem rates
Access Per Diem Rates on the GSA Website:
Travelers are eligible for 75% of the per diem for the 1st and last calendar of travel with over night stay
What’s stayed the same?
Per diem rate includes meals and incidentals
Per rate is based on the location of the lodging
Any meals provided are to be deducted from the daily per diem rate

5. Per Diem Allowances
For all travel, 75% per diem is allowed for the 1st and last calendar day of travel; examples below.
1 Day trip – No overnight stay
Employees traveling longer than 12 hours are eligible for 75% of the per diem rate. As there is no period of rest, this is considered a taxable reimbursement (as per IRS regulations).
2 Day trip – overnight stay
Employees traveling for 2 days are eligible for 75% of the per diem rate for the first day of travel and 75% of the per diem rate for the second day of travel.
3 Day trip – overnight stay
Employees traveling for 3 days or more are eligible for 75% per diem on the 1st and last calendar day of travel, and 100% of the per diem rate for the remaining travel days.

6. Per Diem Allowances
The first and last day calendar day of travel is calculated at 75 percent.

7. Per Diem Allowances Per-Diem (Domestic – Outside Continental US)
Outside Continental US includes Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions
Same per diem rate guidelines apply, as listed for Domestic Continental US (above)
For per diem rates, see the Department of Defense website:
International Travel Per-Diem
International travelers may use the U.S. Department of State Foreign Per Diem rates which can be found at
International per diem rates can be used to obtain reimbursement for authorized travel outside the United States, Canada and Mexico.