GSA Increases FY16 Per Diem Rates

Federal employees can breathe a little easier when on official work travel in fiscal year (FY) 2016. That’s because they will see some small increases in the FY16 Per Diem rates. This does not necessarily mean drive-thru dining will become a thing of the past while on Temporary Duty (TDY), but what it does mean is that Federal employees will enjoy a slightly higher than standard Per Diem rate in roughly 400 counties throughout the Continental United States (CONUS).

Established by President Truman on July 1, 1949, the General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for establishing Per Diem rates for CONUS, which are the maximum allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel. The CONUS Per Diem rate for an area is broken down into three categories of allowances: lodging, meals, and incidental expense.

The new Per Diem rates will take effect October 1, 2015. For a breakdown of FY16 Per Diem Highlights published by GSA, please click here.

GSA also offers an interactive map, for users to search Per Diem rates by TDY destinations.