Daily cap for meal expenses raised

UC Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Peter Taylor has announced that UC’s daily meal and incidental expense (M&IE) cap for travel within the continental U.S. has increased to $71. This change is based on the FY 2012 highest domestic per diem rate published by the General Services Administration for travel within the continental U.S.

Although the University’s cap amount is tied to the maximum Federal per diem, travelers may seek reimbursement only for their actual expenses in accordance with existing policy.  The Office of the President (OP) has asked all departments to remind travelers that only expenses actually incurred are reimbursable.  In addition, OP has advised that departments should require their travelers to submit M&IE receipts if it appears that the travelers are treating the cap as a per diem by routinely claiming the full M&IE amount.

The maximum meal rates for entertainment and business meeting meals have been increased in proportion to the M&IE rate for travel within the continental U.S.  The new rates are as follows:

The revised rates are effective for expenses incurred on or after March 1, 2012.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the person designated for your office:

Cooperative Extension offices: Cherie McDougald, director – Kearney Business Operations Center, (559) 646-6518 or cfmcdougald@ucdavis.edu

Statewide programs, research & extension centers, and ANR service units at the UC Davis campus: Nikki Humphreys, associate director – Davis Business Operations Center, (530) 754-8510 or nrhumphreys@ucdavis.edu

Oakland (OP) ANR administrative offices: Ben Chin, director – Financial Services, (510) 987-0704 or ben.chin@ucop.edu

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