2009 Federal Mileage and Washington State Per Diem Rates

BUSINESS MILEAGE: The mileage rate has been reduced from 58.5 to 55 cents per mile for 2009. In all of our audits and detail provisions this year, the documentation for mileage deductions will be reviewed, so be clear what your mileage justification is. Mapquest can be used, and you need only figure the mileage once for those repetitive or multiple trips. PER DIEM: Rates are established for travel costs (meals and lodging) that allow for documenting the trip without the need for meal receipts. To qualify for per diems, you must meet the following requirements: 1. Travel away from your official place of business; and 2. Incur per diem expenses while performing official travel; and 3. Be in a travel status for more than 12 consecutive hours. For the first and last day of official travel, you are authorized 75% of the applicable meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) rate, provided they meet the above requirements.