Local travel is defined as less than 50 miles one way from the employee’s work location or the traveler’s residence, whichever is greater.
- Barring exceptional business reasons, local travel does not qualify for an overnight stay or payment of personal meals.
- To seek approval for lodging within 50 miles of the work location/residence an exception to business procedures form should be submitted prior to the travel.
- Based on IRS guidance, if a trip exceeds the local travel distance and the traveler is in travel status for more than 12 hours, but the traveler chooses not to stay overnight, personal meals will be eligible for reimbursement at 75% of the standard per diem rate for the locality visited.