A Per Diem Formula for Excel
By Hunter Taylor
A per diem is the expenses needed to live per day. Business uses the per diem rate to determine the amount to reimburse or allow its employees for expenses incurred on behalf of the business. The formula for per diem can be calculated in Microsoft Excel.
Definition
Per diem means per day. In business, it is the expense per day to live away from home.
Components
Depending upon the distance away from home, the components of a per diem can include food, lodging, incidental and transportation expenses. A per diem is a flat dollar amount for each day.
Calculation
Per diem = Food (breakfast + lunch + dinner) + Transportation (.55 x number of miles) + Incidentals + Lodging (room cost + taxes)
Transportation and Food Costs
The Internal Revenue Service sets the per-mile transportation costs. In some years, travelers are allowed 55 cents per mile and, in others, it has been 58 cents per mile. Usually, a per diem is applicable when a trip is 50 or more miles away from the home residence. The allowance for food is set, according to the general food costs across a state or counties. For places with a higher cost of living, such as New York, the per diem expenses for food will be higher.
Incidentals and Lodging
It is a good idea to budget for unexpected incidentals and to include this in the formula. Using discounted travel sites helps in planning for lodging costs and provides a final cost for per diem formulas.
Per Diem Reimbursements
The expenses incurred can be reimbursed. Just keep track of all trip expenses and submit those receipts.
References
Writer Bio
Hunter Taylor has been a freelance writer since 2005. She has authored articles for the "The Social Contract Journal," as well as newspapers, legislative magazines and e-newsletters for state legislators and organizations. Taylor holds a Master of Business Administration from Shorter University.