Per Diem Rate Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: 10/21/10

1. Who prescribes Per Diem Rates?
2. Where can I find Per Diem Rates?
3. What if the Per Diem Rate for a location is too low?

1. Who prescribes Per Diem Rates?

Calculation of travel per diem rates within the Federal government is a shared responsibility.

• Contiguous 48 States and the District of Columbia are prescribed by the General Services Administration.



• Non-foreign areas outside the contiguous 48 States and District of Columbia (e.g., Alaska, Puerto Rico) are prescribed by the Department Travel Managment Office.



• Foreign areas outside the contiguous 48 States and the District of Columbia are prescribed by the Department of State.

2. Where can I find Per Diem Rates?

To calculate per diem for the contiguous 48 states and for Non-foreign and Foreign areas outside the contiguous 48 states, visit the Per Diem Rates Query page.

• Contiguous 48 States and the District of Columbia



• Non-foreign and Foreign areas (includes all areas outside the contiguous 48 States)

3. What if the Per Diem Rate for a location is too low?

(JFTR) When a member, command or Action Officer (AO) thinks that the lodging and/or meal expenses for any location are inconsistent with the prescribed per diem rate, a formal letter, with original signature, identifying the location and nature of the problem should be sent to the appropriate activity listed in par. U4179-B via (1) the appropriate command channels and (2) via the applicable department/office listed in par. U4179-A.

(JTR) When a traveler, command, or AO thinks that the lodging and/or meal expenses for any location are inconsistent with the prescribed per diem rate, a formal letter, with original signature, identifying the location and nature of the problem should be sent to the appropriate activity listed in par. C4551-B via (1) the appropriate Service/agency channels and (2) via the applicable department/office listed in par. C4551-A.

The activity/Service/agency determines the survey request is valid (depending on the location in question along with other factors) and then may submit the request to the appropriate activity listed in par. U4179-B (JFTR) or C4551-B (JTR). Please make sure which regulation is applicable to the circumstance.

*Because requests must contain original signatures they cannot be forwarded to the Per Diem Committee through the home page. Additionally, all requests must contain the name of the city, county (if applicable), and state/country for which a review is requested. Letters not containing the above information are neither considered nor returned.