Refer to the information below on UC Davis policies for meal expenses and incidentals.
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE) must be ordinary and necessary to accomplish the official business purpose of the trip.
Meals
- Meal allowance for Travel under 30 days within the lower 48 states is limited to $92 per day (effective Oct. 1, 2024).
- See Foreign travel section for information about daily maximum allowances.
- Meal reimbursement may only be claimed for the amount of actual expenses incurred (not to exceed $92 per day).
- There must be an overnight stay to claim meal expenses.
- Alcohol is not permitted when charging the expense to a State or General Fund source.
- Meals should be purchased using the UC Davis Travel card, whenever possible.
- All tips for meals are included in the same daily limit.
- Travelers should not pay for other travelers’ meals, unless part of a designated Group trip
- Any non-group travel expense paid on behalf of another traveler is subject to exception approval.
- Exception approval is requested by answering the question, "Expenses for other travelers or spouse/partner?" on the AggieExpense report header.
- Receipts are only required for domestic meals & incidentals when a single expense exceeds $75.
- Expenses will only be paid for actuals up to the stated policy limit.
- Travelers who appear to be treating the daily meal limit as a per diem, by claiming the full amount or another fixed amount on a repeated basis without additional justification, will be required to provide supporting receipts for future meal claims, in accordance with BFB G-28.
Incidentals
- Incidentals include tips and gratuity given to baggage carriers or train porters.
- Incidentals do not include purchasing of personal items, such as toothbrushes or soap.
- Incidentals do not include tips for housekeeping, which should be categorized as a lodging expense.
- The daily limit for meals and incidentals is $92 (effective Oct. 1, 2024).
- Receipts are not required for incidentals.