The U.S. General Services Administration's standard per diem for fiscal year 2021 will be $151, the same as last year's per diem. The rate includes $96 for lodging and $55 for meals and incidental expenses and takes effect on Oct.1 1 this year. The per diem is the maximum allowance that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while traveling.
GSA set the rate for the continental United States and the District of Columbia and covers approximately 2,600 counties. The rate been based on average daily hotel rate data from the lodging industry and the prior 12-month period spanning through February 2020.
For FY 2021, GSA will allow for higher than standard per diems for 319 markets, down from 322 last year. Markets moved into the standard rate category this year are Gainesville, Fla.; Atlantic City, N.J.; College Station, Texas; and Abingdon, Va. Albuquerque, N.M., was added to the nonstandard list of markets.