Attention all companies that rely on per-diem rates for travel and entertainment (T&E) expenses: You have some new numbers to keep track of.
The feds just released the new rates for Fiscal Year 2019, which go into effect Oct. 1, 2018.
The biggest change you’ll see? An increase in how much you’ll spend.
Prepare to open your wallet wider
The new per diem rate for the continental United States (CONUS) lands at $149, broken down into:
- $94/day for lodging (up just a buck over FY2018), and
- $55/day for meals and incidental expenses (a $4 increase).
Of course you know it’s not that straightforward. There are also the nonstandard areas (NSAs), which have higher rates than the standard per-diem.
And this year you and your team will have 325 of them to keep track of. The good news? There’s a single new addition to the NSA list: Marietta, GA (Cobb County).
Moving to the NSA category
Then you have the reverse situation. Many areas that were NSAs in FY 2018 will now rely on the standard CONUS rate for FY 2019. They are:
- Shelby County, AL
- Little Rock, AR
- Kings County, CA
- Bond/Calhoun/Clinton/Jersey/Macoupin/Madison/Monroe counties, IL
- Plaquemines/St. Bernard parishes, LA
- Leelanau County, MI
- Crawford/Franklin/Jefferson/Lincoln/Warren/Washington counties, MO
- Butte, MT
- Glendive/Sidney, MT
- Williston, ND
- Sullivan County, NH
- Las Cruces, NM
- Seneca/Tioga counties, NY
- Huron/Darke counties, OH
- Washington County, RI
- Butte/Mead counties, SD
- Greene County, VA
- Warrenton, VA
- Franklin/Addison counties, VT
- Wheeling, WV, and
- Uinta County, WY.
With the new rates kicking in this week, now’s the time to make sure your A/P staffers, road warriors and approving supervisors have the current info to keep your compliance up.
Info: www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates/fy-2019-per-diem-highlights
