Rule 3341-6-47 | University travel expense.
(A) Policy statement and purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance and direction for university employees traveling on university-related business. It is not intended to address every travel-related issue, exception or contingency that may arise in the course of university travel. Specific issues not covered should be directed to the office of the vice president for finance and administration for clarification and resolution.
(B) Policy
Bowling Green state university shall conduct its business-related travel activities in an efficient and cost-effective manner that supports the mission of the university while maintaining compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. All university travel reimbursement requests shall be administered through the division of finance and administration (and not through a department's petty cash account) and will be conducted in a manner that is compliant with applicable federal and state regulations and best practices.
Employees who travel on university business are encouraged to incur the lowest practical and reasonable expense while still traveling in an efficient and timely manner. Those traveling on university business are expected to avoid impropriety, or the appearance of impropriety, in any travel expense. Employees should conduct university business with integrity, in compliance with applicable laws and Ohio ethics guidelines, and in a manner that excludes consideration of personal advantage.
Should an expense be incurred that is subsequently determined to be improper or in excess of normal costs of travel, the traveler may not be fully reimbursed.
In the event an expenditure is reimbursed that is later deemed to be ineligible as a tax-free reimbursement as a result of post-reimbursement audit procedures, the amount will be included in the employee's W-2 as taxable income.
More restrictive policies and procedures may apply to travelers receiving funding from restricted sources (e.g., federal, private and/or state grants) or from departments, programs or centers that have chosen to enact more restrictive travel reimbursement practices.
Employees are responsible for following this policy and, if applicable, the policy of their particular program or department.
(1) University approved travel
The university follows IRS regulations which provide that daily transportation expenses incurred while traveling from home to one or more regular places of business are generally non-deductible personal commuting expenses, and therefore, will not be reimbursed. University approved travel is generally defined as transportation on university business in excess of one's normal commute and includes any travel on official university business from home or primary work location to another, secondary destination, and return to home or primary work location from a secondary location i.e., the university will reimburse the shorter distance of
(a) Home to temporary business or meeting locations or
(b) University to temporary business or meeting location
(2) Restricted fund programs (e.g., grants and contracts)
This policy applies to all restricted fund programs. However, if specific agency guidelines for a restricted fund program are more restrictive than university policy, the agency rules apply. Principal investigators and others traveling on restricted funds should be familiar with the allowable cost provisions of their funded program. In no case will an amount larger than that allowed under the university's policies be reimbursed. Travel expenses that do not conform with both this policy and the grant funded program guidelines will not be reimbursed or charged to the sponsoring agency.
(3) Travel authorization
All travel must be authorized in advance and approved by the traveler's supervisor. Please note that individual departments may have chosen to delegate travel authorization to the applicable budget administrator. If the budget administrator or any department head is the traveler, the travel must be authorized by his/her next level of supervision.
The approval of the travel expense report by the traveler and his/her supervisor constitutes certification to the accuracy and appropriateness of all expenses and allowances listed as actually necessary in the performance of official university business and in conformity with university travel policy and procedures.
(4) Travel expenditures
Generally, travel expenses should not be paid in advance (e.g., hotel, meals). However, allowable travel items charged to a university purchasing card (e.g., airfare, conference registration) may be charged in advance. Any unused airline or train ticket purchases remain the property of the university. Advances of university funds for individual travel purposes are not permitted.
Generally, no personal travel expenditures will be reimbursed without a receipt. The IRS permits the following exceptions: de minimis expenditures (individual small dollar purchases less than twenty-five dollars for items such as bridge tolls, short term parking, and cab fare) and meal per diem.
All foreign travel must be registered, in advance of departure, in the international travel registry (located on the international programs and partnerships website) to be reimbursable.
Expense reimbursements must be submitted within ninety days of travel. Reimbursements submitted after ninety days, if approved, will be made as a taxable reimbursement.
(5) Air travel
(a) Common carrier
University employees are expected to take advantage of the lowest airfare available and to obtain the lowest possible fare by booking travel tickets well in advance of planned travel times, whenever possible.
No reimbursement will be made for first-class or premium rates where other options are available. Expenses claimed under this section must be supported by a ticket stub, receipt, confirmation, or similar evidence of expense showing the details (destination and cost) of travel.
(b) Private or chartered aircraft
The use of private or chartered aircraft requires written authorization by the president or a vice president. Reimbursement shall not exceed the equivalent of the lowest available common air carrier rate available at the time the travel was authorized plus necessary commercial ground transportation to the travel destination.
The employee must submit with his/her travel expense report a copy of the written authorization to use a private or rented aircraft (receipts are required for rental) indicating a private or chartered aircraft was used.
Note that the university's general travel risk insurance covering employees while in travel status does not provide coverage to employees while piloting an aircraft. Consistent with the way travel is managed for personal autos, it is understood that the primary insurance for aircraft hull and liability shall be the responsibility of the owner of the aircraft or the employee if the employee is the owner. The cost to maintain this insurance is not recoverable beyond the mileage allowance that is paid.
(c) Frequent flyer miles and hotel reward programs
Frequent flyer miles and hotel reward program credits earned through travel on university business cannot be used for personal purposes. These miles and credits must be applied to future university travel. Each employee is personally and legally responsible for tracking accrual and usage for auditing purposes.
If an employee is regularly paying for multiple travelers (such as athletic team or conference travel), the university purchasing card must be used.
(d) Airport transportation and parking
Airport parking and airport transportation will be reimbursed based on actual receipt (unless de minimis). Other services that may be available at a parking facility such as car washing, detailing, oil changes, are personal in nature and are not reimbursable.
(6) Miscellaneous transportation and expenses
If the traveler is required to use other transportation (bus, taxi, subway, ferry, etc.) between airports, between home and the departure point, at a destination or overnight lodging, the actual cost of the transportation will be reimbursed. Receipts must be obtained and provided for any fare that exceeds twenty-five dollars.
(7) Personal automobile
The use of a privately owned vehicle will be reimbursed at the current IRS mileage rate in effect at the time of travel. The IRS-specified mileage rate is intended to cover all expenses incurred for using a privately owned vehicle except parking fees and tolls.
Mileage reimbursements for a traveler who chooses to drive rather than fly should not exceed the lowest round trip coach airfare available at the time travel was authorized. The traveler must supply documentation to support what the airfare would have been at that time.
It is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle being used for business to carry adequate insurance coverage. The owner's personal insurance on the vehicle is considered primary at all times. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to maintain insurance in an amount sufficient to pay for any loss and as required by the laws of the state of Ohio. The university does not provide coverage for loss of or damage to personal vehicles of employees when used in conjunction with university travel. Likewise, the university is not responsible for the loss of or damage to any personal property stored in the vehicle.
Expenses for the maintenance and repair of privately owned vehicles used for university business are the responsibility of the traveler.
(8) Car rental
Rental cars are authorized if their use is as economical as any other type of transportation. Additionally:
(a) Reimbursable expenses. Travelers may be reimbursed for a rented vehicle and for the gasoline purchased for official university business in the rental vehicle.
(b) Vehicle class. University guidelines do not provide for the reimbursement of luxury vehicles. The university standard is an intermediate size car or comparable vehicle.
(c) Insurance. The employee should waive the rental company's loss/damage supplemental liability and/or personal accident insurance when utilizing the university vendor (Enterprise). Insurance should be accepted when renting outside from other companies.
(d) International rentals. An international driver's license or permit may be needed in addition to your U.S. driver's license, in which case, the cost can be reimbursed with receipt. For travel outside the United States, the employee should accept the liability and collision damage insurance offered through the rental company.
(9) Meals
The university will reimburse meals at the IRS standard per diem rate (revised annually as published by the U.S. general service administration "GSA"). When travel is to a location designated by the IRS as a high-cost area, the traveler may be reimbursed at the higher per diem rate. The per diem allowance includes incidental expenses such as fees and tips for porters, baggage carriers, housecleaning and bell staff, therefore, requests for reimbursements of these types of expenses will be disallowed.
IRS per diem rates are provided as a total daily rate. For purposes of calculating partial days, breakfast represents twenty percent of the daily per diem total, lunch represents thirty-one per cent of the daily per diem total, and dinner represents forty-nine per cent of the daily per diem total.
University travelers do not qualify for personal meal reimbursement during same-day travel. IRS regulations require that an employee be away from home substantially longer than an ordinary day's work AND during the time away from home, need sleep or rest (referred to as the "overnight rule" i.e., overnight stay is required).
No alcoholic beverages of any kind can be reimbursed from university funds.
For partial days of travel, meals will be reimbursed for one day prior and one day after an overnight stay for traditional meal times that occur during the travel. The maximum reimbursement will be at the published GSA rate at the time of travel.
(a) Conference meals
No reimbursement will be made for a meal that is provided as part of a conference registration fee. Reimbursement may be made for meals in excess of per diem allowances, when such meals are an integral part of the conference or seminar and are listed separately on the registration materials or are included in the cost of the conference or seminar. Supporting documentation such as the registration receipt or printed material showing which meal(s) are covered is required. Conference meals will be reimbursed regardless of the overnight stay requirement.
(10) Lodging
Travelers will be reimbursed at the actual, reasonable single room rate for university business that is fifty miles or more from the traveler's primary work assignment. The reasonableness of the hotel will be determined by the immediate supervisor of the employee. Hotel stays in Toledo are not reimbursable unless part of a conference. Exceptions to the fifty mile rule will only be granted for exceptional circumstances.
When travel on official business requires overnight lodging more than fifty miles from the traveler's home or headquarters, reimbursement will be made for the actual and reasonable cost plus taxes per night. When in the state of Ohio, the traveler should inquire as to the availability of a state tax exemption due to the tax exempt status of the university. A copy of the university's tax exemption certificate may be obtained from the office of controller webpage.
Personal expenses such as in-room movies, non-business telephone calls, in-room beverage or snack bars, child care, recreational activities, and other similar expenses will not be reimbursed.
(11) Additional information:
Additional statements related to travel expense may be found in other policies issued by finance and administration or individual divisions, colleges or departments.
Related policies: 3341-6-08, "Business entertainment expense."
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 3345
Prior Effective Dates: 3/17/2015, 11/3/2016