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4.13.1 Meals

Employees shall be reimbursed the actual cost of meals incident to official travel, not to exceed the daily maximums.  Traveling personnel should contact the Office of Financial Services for current meal rates.  Reimbursement rates for meals will be according to per diem for areas traveled.  For rates visit www.gsa.gov/perdiem.
 
Meals for trips inside of Hinds County and counties bordering Hinds County will not be reimbursed unless an overnight stay is required.  If the actual meal costs exceed the maximum daily expenditure limit, the Travel Coordinator will only approve meals up to the maximum daily limit.  If JSU elects to reimburse a meal where no overnight stay is required, the reimbursement is considered a “taxable meal” necessitating adjustments for IRS purposes.
 
The maximum daily limit is dependent on the city as recorded in the Federal Register.  See also www.dfa.state.ms.us/Purchasing/Travel/ConvertedRates.pdf. Meal receipts will not be required.  Meals for trips inside of Hinds County and counties bordering Hinds County will not be reimbursed unless an overnight stay is required.
 
Tips or gratuities for services are chargeable as a separate item, but tips for meals should be included in the actual meal expense unless the daily limitation for meals would be exceeded.  Total meal tips shall not exceed 20 percent of the maximum daily meal reimbursement claimed. 
 
Alcoholic beverages are NOT reimbursable.