---
title: "Per diem"
description: "Per diem — A fixed daily allowance paid for lodging, meals and incidental expenses in place of reimbursing actual cost. Within the federal rate for the place and date it substantiates the amount of the expense under an accountable plan; time, place and business purpose still need recording."
canonical: "https://lopifi.com/glossary/per-diem"
---

# Per diem

> Per diem — A fixed daily allowance paid for lodging, meals and incidental expenses in place of reimbursing actual cost. Within the federal rate for the place and date it substantiates the amount of the expense under an accountable plan; time, place and business purpose still need recording.

Source: https://lopifi.com/glossary/per-diem
Part of: Lopifi — Planned: US GAAP books on autopilot, checked by a CPA (https://lopifi.com)

---

**What is per diem?** In accounting, per diem means a fixed daily allowance paid for lodging, meals and incidental expenses in place of reimbursing actual cost. Within the federal rate for the place and date it substantiates the amount of the expense under an accountable plan; time, place and business purpose still need recording.

## Words this system refuses for it

- stipend
- mileage

- **Category:** Payables
- **Specified in:** [Lexicon](https://lopifi.com/md/docs/domain/lexicon)
- **Related:** accountable-plan, expense