What AP Needs to Know About Recordkeeping for Per-Diem Payments
November 2004
Main article
Theres no such thing as a simplified reimbursement for business meals and entertainment. Its made under either an accountable plan and requires full recordkeeping or a nonaccountable plan and treated as salary. Employers can use three different types of simplified recordkeeping for per-diem arrangements: a regular per-diem that covers lodging, meals, and incidental expenses (M&IE); a simplified per-diem for lodging and M&IE; or a meals-incidentals-only per-diem. This article, adapted from a special report for the Controllers Tax Letter, a sister publication, examines the different options.




