What Is Per Diem and How Does It Work for Business Travel?

SAP Concur published an article explaining what per diem is and how it works, covering three common expense categories: lodging, meals, and incidentals. The article describes fixed allowances and reimbursable allowances, as well as a mixed model, and notes that many organizations base rates on federal per diem rates published by the GSA or IRS, with the U.S. Department of State providing benchmarks for international travel. It also discusses pre-approvals, advances, international compliance configurations, and the benefits and limitations of per diem.