o/s travel deductions

[NM]

I like the per diem approach for meals, etc., as it allows you to use that amount at your discrection. This way you can often save some bucks during the trip and then use for duty free alcohol, or gifts to placate SWMBO.

And as a family, there are costs that are incurred that are not able to be claimed but are a direct result of my business travel. For example, if Mrs NM has to go out at night, she need to pay a babysitter where I would have been available if I was not travelling. Or she may take the kids out for takeaway meals more often when I am travelling. These "incidentals" can be covered by my per diem allowance but could not be claimed on an actual expense policy.

And saving some per diem scope for the necessary 'peace offering" is good practice

 

[Reggie]

Many years ago I used to be on reimbursement of actual expenses. That was a real pain and I lost money on overseas trips. For example, when the A$ was trading at around US$0.50, a beer could cost me around A$12-15 and bar tabs were not reimbursed, only meals. So a pre-dinner drink would cost me dearly when dining with colleagues. Now I get a per diem rate that is claimed in the local currency so exchange rates hold the value firm for that country. Of course if I don't spend all my allowance I get it in A$ so a weak A$ means a more healthy expense payment when I get home.

I am in a sales orientated organisation thus the only things not covered are cigarette's, fines and a certain form of entertainment. Everything else, within reason, is claimable, so drinks before, during and after dinner with colleagues and/or clients would be reimbursed, again normally through the accomodation bill, restaraunt bill, or reciept from bar. Quite often it is hard to get a receipt at a bar, try asking for a receipt in the front bar of a Kalgoorlie Hotel on a Friday night, thus at times I claim back with no receipt. Others I know, dont get reimbursed for said expenses. I dont make any money from my trips, but also dont loose like you may have in the past.

 

[Reggie]

And saving some per diem scope for the necessary 'peace offering" is good practice

Hadn't thought of that advantage, but at present there are no mini reggie's and generally after every trip, we get takeaway chinese (we live rurally, so dine in not option) and put that on the expense form.

 

[simongr]

I am not a fan of Per Diem personally. I find that with the junior staff I worked with that it became a game to "screw" the company out of as much as possible. I am also fairly lucky with my current boss - he doesnt worry too much about my expense levels (the food part of my travel is tiny compared to the flight costs). I dont think a per diem would cover off the dinners we had in New York (US$450 for 3 one night and US$300 for two another night).

 

[Shano]

I dont think a per diem would cover off the dinners we had in New York (US$450 for 3 one night and US$300 for two another night).

How much was solid and how much was liquid

 

[simongr]

Umm - $450 - probably about $300 for wine $300 - about $100 for wine

These dinners were around our semi-annual team meeting so it was a bonding experience

 

[NM]

I am not a fan of Per Diem personally. I find that with the junior staff I worked with that it became a game to "screw" the company out of as much as possible.

I would have thought it harder to "screw" the company when using per diems. The cost is fixed and predictable. No way to play around with it. You were either travelling that night or you were not. And if a meal is provided by someone else (vendor, boss etc) then there are set percentages to be deducted for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I am also fairly lucky with my current boss - he doesnt worry too much about my expense levels (the food part of my travel is tiny compared to the flight costs). I dont think a per diem would cover off the dinners we had in New York (US$450 for 3 one night and US$300 for two another night).

With a per diem allowance for meals, I can choose if I want to have a really expensive meal one day then I don't the following day. Of if I am "entertaining a customer, then the who meal++ cost is claimed per the receipt and I deduct the dinner (or whatever meal) portion from that day's per diem. I like the process much better than trying to keep a track of each breakfast, lunch and dinner that I spent so I could claim it back 3 weeks later when submitting my expense report.

 

[oz_mark]

With a per diem allowance for meals, I can choose if I want to have a really expensive meal one day then I don't the following day. Of if I am "entertaining a customer, then the who meal++ cost is claimed per the receipt and I deduct the dinner (or whatever meal) portion from that day's per diem. I like the process much better than trying to keep a track of each breakfast, lunch and dinner that I spent so I could claim it back 3 weeks later when submitting my expense report.

This is the main problem I find with my situation of claiming actual expenses. There are lots of little bits of paper to keep track of. Actually having a corporate card has made it worse, as I need to hold on to them until the statement comes. If I just pay out of pocket I can claim it anytime.

 

[Reggie]

Actually having a corporate card has made it worse, as I need to hold on to them until the statement comes. If I just pay out of pocket I can claim it anytime.

It is for this reason I do not bother with a corporate card. I pay with a personal card and claim it all back. I keep a spread sheet running whilst away and keep adding to is I go.

OTH my boss does it all at the end of the trip and takes him ages, and I am sure he would loose out.

 

[oz_mark]

It is for this reason I do not bother with a corporate card. I pay with a personal card and claim it all back. I keep a spread sheet running whilst away and keep adding to is I go.

OTH my boss does it all at the end of the trip and takes him ages, and I am sure he would loose out.

I am thinking of canning the corporate card. It certainly is of no benefit to me having one, and is in actual fact a disadvantage. Maybe it is of use for the financial people in generating reports and stuff, but the hassle is just not worth it.

 

[simongr]

It is for this reason I do not bother with a corporate card. I pay with a personal card and claim it all back. I keep a spread sheet running whilst away and keep adding to is I go.

OTH my boss does it all at the end of the trip and takes him ages, and I am sure he would loose out.

I dont have any choice - I have to use the corporate card for all expenses. Which is annoying as it means some flights get charged to people's corporate cards if they have a higher limit than I do - whereas if I could charge all costs to my card there would not be an issue

I also wouldnt mind actually getting some admin support to do my expenses but that's another story.

@NM The perception that you are screwing the company comes from people thinking that if they dont spend the full per diem you are making a profit from the company - I would rather max out the equivalent daily allowance or go over it

 

[NYCguy]

... I do not bother with a corporate card. I pay with a personal card and claim it all back.

This is my preferred manner of dealing with expenses. I have never had a claim questioned, though I admit I keep receipts obsessively. I couldn't entertain my clients on a per diem allowance!

OTH my boss does it all at the end of the trip and takes him ages, and I am sure he would loose out.

I do it at the end of each month, but it doesn't take me much time at all. These jobs are what my PA's PA is for.

 

[oz_mark]

I do it at the end of each month, but it doesn't take me much time at all. These jobs are what my PA's PA is for.

Be nice to have a PA, but I am nowhere near far enough up the food chain for that

 

[littl_flier]

I am not a fan of Per Diem personally. I find that with the junior staff I worked with that it became a game to "screw" the company out of as much as possible. I am also fairly lucky with my current boss - he doesnt worry too much about my expense levels (the food part of my travel is tiny compared to the flight costs). I dont think a per diem would cover off the dinners we had in New York (US$450 for 3 one night and US$300 for two another night).

As a junior employee, I personally hate the Per Diem and would prefer expenses anyday. I do completely agree that it gets screwed by most but its part of our assessable income anyway. When we have away jobs with apartments, the weekly shopping will be one days perdiem and you make a packet load but when we head Sydney and Melbourne etc, we go out and generally eat at the nicest restaurants (centrepoint tower), order $25 entree's, $50 mains, desert and drinks. In these circumstances, Per Diems just don't give you a good night out. As for the record, we have splurged $1600 for four at dinner with a bottle of Grange. Admittedly, the Boss was sitting at the table and paying!

Generally, my expenses would average without breakfast (always included in the accomodation cost) at about $65 per day.

 

[Reggie]

Be nice to have a PA, but I am nowhere near far enough up the food chain for that

Ditto oz_mark, the closest thing I have to PA is the female voice on my message bank telling me I xx new messages.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I am thinking of canning the corporate card. It certainly is of no benefit to me having one, and is in actual fact a disadvantage. Maybe it is of use for the financial people in generating reports and stuff, but the hassle is just not worth it.

I don't have a choice. Anything not on corporate card is by default rejected and a real battle to get reimbursed. Unless it is a big amount, in the end simply not worth the hassle.

 

[Reggie]

I don't have a choice. Anything not on corporate card is by default rejected and a real battle to get reimbursed. Unless it is a big amount, in the end simply not worth the hassle.

So what do you do about those wonderful tipping expenses you incur in the US. Also try finding a cabbie in NY other than airport trips that take CC.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

end up wearing it mostly

 

[Reggie]

end up wearing it mostly

:mrgreen: Another horrible thought

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

it is the usual story of the rules being made by someone who doesn't travel