Taxation Determination

TD 2007/21

Income tax: what are the reasonable travel and meal allowance expense amounts for 2007-2008?

This version is no longer current. Please follow this link to view the current version.

  • Please note that the PDF version is the authorised consolidated version of this ruling and amending notices.
    This document has changed over time. View its history.

This publication provides you with the following level of protection:

This publication (excluding appendixes) is a public ruling for the purposes of the Taxation Administration Act 1953. A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion about the way in which a relevant provision applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a class of entities in relation to a particular scheme or a class of schemes. If you rely on this ruling, we must apply the law to you in the way set out in the ruling (unless we are satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages you, in which case we may apply the law in a way that is more favourable for you - provided we are not prevented from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). You will be protected from having to pay any underpaid tax, penalty or interest in respect of the matters covered by this ruling if it turns out that it does not correctly state how the relevant provision applies to you.

[Note: This is a consolidated version of this document. Refer to the Tax Office Legal Database (http://law.ato.gov.au) to check its currency and to view the details of all changes.]

1. This Determination sets out the amounts that the Commissioner considers are reasonable ( reasonable amounts ) for the 2007-08 income year in relation to claims made for:

(a)
overtime meal allowance expenses;
(b)
domestic travel allowance expenses;
(c)
travel allowance expenses for employee truck drivers; and
(d)
overseas travel allowance expenses.

Taxation Ruling TR 2004/6

2. This Determination should be read together with Taxation Ruling TR 2004/6 which explains the substantiation exception and the way in which these expenses are able to be claimed. Key points about claiming travel allowance expenses and meal allowance expenses are:

Claim must be allowable - A deduction claim cannot exceed the amount actually incurred for work-related purposes. The payment of an allowance does not of itself allow a deduction to be claimed.
Expenses covered - The expenses that the substantiation exception apply to are:

-
domestic travel allowance expenses - accommodation, food and drink, and incidentals that are covered by the allowance (but the accommodation rates do not apply to employee truck drivers);
-
overseas travel allowance expenses - food and drink, and incidentals that are covered by the allowance (the exception does not apply to accommodation); and
-
Meal allowance expenses - for food and drink in connection with overtime worked.

For travel allowance expenses - The employee must sleep away from home.
Substantiation exception for reasonable amounts - Where the amount claimed is no more than the applicable reasonable amount, substantiation of the claim with written evidence is not required.
Allowance must be paid - The substantiation exception only applies if the employee is paid a meal allowance under an industrial instrument or a travel allowance. The allowance must have an identifiable connection with the nature of the expense covered.
Claims in excess of reasonable amounts - If the amount claimed is more than the reasonable amount, the whole claim must be substantiated, not just the excess.
Verification of reasonable claims - In appropriate cases, where the substantiation exception is relied on, the employee may still be required to show:

-
an entitlement to the substantiation exception;
-
the reasonable rate used;
-
an entitlement to a deduction (for example that work-related travel was undertaken);
-
a bona fide travel allowance was paid; and
-
if accommodation is claimed, that commercial accommodation was used.

The nature and degree of evidence will depend on the circumstances: for example the circumstances under which the employer pays allowances, the occupation of the employee, and the total amount of allowances received and claimed during the year by the employee.
Tax return treatment - Where a travel or overtime meal allowance which does not exceed the reasonable amounts is not shown on the payment summary, and it has been fully spent on deductible expenses, neither the allowances nor the expenses need be shown on the employee's tax return. If an amount less than the allowance has been spent, the income tax return must include the allowance and the expense claimed. Whenever a claim is made for overtime meal or travel allowance expenses the allowance must also be included in the tax return.

Reasonable amount for overtime meal allowance expenses

3. For overtime meal expenses to be considered under the exception from substantiation, the meal allowance must be a bona fide meal allowance (see paragraph 87 of Taxation Ruling TR 2004/6) paid or payable under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or an award, order, determination or industrial agreement in force under such a law (section 900-60 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997).

4. For the 2007-08 income year the reasonable amount for overtime meal allowance expenses is $22.60.

Reasonable amounts for domestic travel allowance expenses

Types of expenses

5. This Determination shows reasonable amounts for travel allowance expenses. The reasonable amounts are given for:

accommodation at daily rates (for domestic travel only);
meals (showing breakfast, lunch and dinner); and
deductible expenses incidental to travel.

Travel destinations

6. These amounts are shown for the following travel destination:

each Australian State and Territory capital city;
certain specified high cost regional and country centres (at individual rates);
other specified regional and country centres (at a common rate);
all other regional and country centres (at a common rate); and
specified overseas locations (selected countries or regions in a country).

Type of accommodation

7. The accommodation rates shown for domestic travel apply only for stays in commercial establishments like hotels, motels and serviced apartments. If a different type of accommodation is used the rates do not apply.

Meal expenses

8. The reasonable amount for meals depends on the period and time of travel. That is, the rates only apply to meals (that is breakfast, lunch, dinner) that fall within the time of day from the commencement of travel to the end of travel covered by the allowance.

Incidental expenses

9. The reasonable amount applies in full to each day of travel covered by the allowance, without the need to apportion for any part-day travel on the first and last day.

Reasonable amount for 2007-08

10. The reasonable amounts for daily travel allowance expenses, according to salary levels and destinations, for the 2007-08 income year are shown in Tables 1 to 6 as follows.

Table 1: Employee's annual salary - $87,200 or below
Place Accomm.
$
Food and drink
$
B'fast 20.20
Lunch 22.65
Dinner 38.95
Incidentals
$15.45
Total
$
Adelaide 145 81.80 15.45 242.25
Brisbane 156 81.80 15.45 253.25
Canberra 114 81.80 15.45 211.25
Darwin 141 81.80 15.45 238.25
Hobart 104 81.80 15.45 201.25
Melbourne 150 81.80 15.45 247.25
Perth 136 81.80 15.45 233.25
Sydney 183 81.80 15.45 280.25
High cost country centres See Table 4 81.80 15.45 Variable - see Table 4
Tier 2 country centres (see Table 5) 91 B'fast 18.05
Lunch 20.65
Dinner 35.60
15.45 180.75
Other country centres 81 B'fast 18.05
Lunch 20.65
Dinner 35.60
15.45 170.75

Table 2: Employee's annual salary - $87,201- $155,000
Place Accomm.
$
Food and drink
$
B'fast 21.95
Lunch 31.10
Dinner 43.55
Incidentals
$22.05
Total
$
Adelaide 155 96.60 22.05 273.65
Brisbane 179 96.60 22.05 297.65
Canberra 145 96.60 22.05 263.65
Darwin 157 96.60 22.05 275.65
Hobart 128 96.60 22.05 246.65
Melbourne 169 96.60 22.05 287.65
Perth 177 96.60 22.05 295.65
Sydney 200 96.60 22.05 318.65
High cost country centres See Table 4 B'fast 21.95
Lunch 31.10
Dinner 43.55
22.05 Variable - see Table 4
Tier 2 country centres (see Table 5) 109 B'fast 20.20
Lunch 20.65
Dinner 40.20
22.05 212.10
Other country centres 97 B'fast 20.20
Lunch 20.65
Dinner 40.20
22.05 200.10

Table 3: Employee's annual salary - $155,001 and above
Place Accomm. Food and drink
$
B'fast $25
Lunch $36
Dinner $56.40
Incidentals
$22.05
Total
Adelaide 195 117.40 22.05 334.45
Brisbane 216 117.40 22.05 355.45
Canberra 195 117.40 22.05 334.45
Darwin 195 117.40 22.05 334.45
Hobart 195 117.40 22.05 334.45
Melbourne 265 117.40 22.05 404.45
Perth 213 117.40 22.05 352.45
Sydney 265 117.40 22.05 404.45
Country centres $180, or the relevant amount in Table 4 if higher 117.40 22.05 Variable - see Table 4 if applicable

Table 4: High cost country centres - accommodation expenses
Country centre $ Country centre $
Alice Springs (NT) 98.00 Kununurra (WA) 147.00
Ballarat (Vic) 102.00 Launceston (TAS) 101.00
Bendigo (Vic) 107.50 Mackay (QLD) 100.00
Broome (WA) 153.00 Maitland (NSW) 98.50
Bunbury(WA) 97.00 Mount Gambier (SA) 97.00
Burnie (Tas) 113.50 Mount Isa (QLD) 110.00
Carnarvon (WA) 109.50 Naracoorte (SA) 96.00
Christmas Island (WA) 120.00 Newcastle (NSW) 105.00
Cocos (Keeling ) Island 100.00 Newman (WA) 136.00
Dampier (WA) 150.00 Norfolk Island 98.00
Derby (WA) 139.00 Port Hedland (WA) 179.50
Devonport (Tas) 106.50 Port Lincoln (SA) 96.00
Emerald (QLD) 96.50 Port Macquarie (NSW) 103.00
Exmouth (WA) 127.50 Portland (VIC) 101.00
Geraldton (WA) 97.00 Thursday Island (QLD) 165.00
Gold Coast (QLD) 118.00 Wagga Wagga (NSW) 100.50
Halls Creek (WA) 125.00 Warrnambool (Vic) 99.50
Horn Island (QLD) 119.00 Weipa (QLD) 125.00
Jabiru (NT) 190.00 Whyalla (SA) 97.00
Kadina (SA) 97.00 Wollongong (NSW) 98.50
Kalgoorlie (WA) 102.50 Wonthaggi 111.00
Karratha (WA) 189.00 Yulara (NT) 313.00

Table 5: Tier 2 country centres
Country centre Country centre
Albany (WA) Echuca (VIC)
Bairnsdale (VIC) Esperance (WA)
Bathurst (NSW) Innisfail (QLD)
Bordertown (SA) Gladstone (QLD)
Bright (VIC) Horsham (VIC)
Broken Hill (NSW) Port Augusta (SA)
Cairns (QLD) Renmark (SA)
Castlemaine (VIC) Roma (QLD)
Ceduna (SA) Orange (NSW)
Dalby (QLD) Seymour (VIC)
Dubbo (NSW)

Reasonable travel allowance expense claims for employee truck drivers

11. Amounts claimed up to the food and drink component only of the reasonable domestic daily travel allowance amounts for 'other country centres' are considered to be reasonable for meal expenses of employee truck drivers who have received a travel allowance and who are required to sleep away from home . For the 2007-08 income year, the relevant amounts are:

Table 6: Employee truck drivers
Salary range Food and drink
$87,200 and below B'fast Lunch Dinner
$18.05 $20.65 $35.60
$74.30 per day
$87,201 and above B'fast Lunch Dinner
$20.20 $20.65 $40.20
$81.05 per day

(For further information on truck drivers see paragraphs 72 to 75 of TR 2004/6 and Taxation Ruling TR 95/18.)

Office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal

12. Daily domestic travel allowance expense claims made by office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal are considered to be reasonable amounts if they do not exceed the rate of allowances set by the Remuneration Tribunal for that office holder.

Federal Members of Parliament

13. The travel allowances paid to Federal Members of Parliament and Federal Parliamentary Secretaries, under the arrangements that commenced on 14 April 1998, are considered reasonable amounts for the recipients of those allowances. This includes the Capital City and Canberra travel allowance rates for domestic travel, having regard to the circumstances under which those allowances are paid.

Reasonable amounts for overseas travel allowance expenses

14. The reasonable amounts for overseas travel expenses are shown in Schedule 1 to this Determination. Table 1 of Schedule 1 sets out the cost group to which a country (or part of a country) has been allocated. Table 2 of Schedule 1 sets out the reasonable amount for meal expenses and incidental travel expenses for each cost group for specified employee salary ranges.

15. If the employee travels to a country that is not shown in Table 1 of Schedule 1 the employee can use the reasonable amount for Cost Group 1 in Table 2 for the relevant salary range.

Examples - calculation of reasonable daily overseas travel expense amounts

Allowance includes a separate meals and incidentals component

16. An employee travels to Brazil on business for two weeks and is paid a travel allowance of $300 per day ($100 for meals and incidentals and $200 for accommodation). The employee's annual salary is $96,000. The reasonable daily overseas travel allowance expense claim is calculated as follows:

Schedule 1 Table 1 lists Brazil as Cost Group 4.
Using Table 2, at a salary of $96,000 per year, the reasonable overseas travel allowance amount for meals and incidental expenses for Cost Group 4 (which covers Brazil) is $205 ($160 for three meals and $45 for incidentals).

17. The employee claims a deduction for meals and incidental expenses actually incurred of $200 per day. As the employee is claiming a deduction that is less than the reasonable amount of $205 per day, the employee does not need to keep written evidence to substantiate expenditure on meals and incidental expenses. The employee is required, however, to maintain a travel record and to keep receipts or other documentary evidence to substantiate accommodation expenses.

Allowance without an identified component for meals and incidentals

18. An employee travels overseas on business for four days and is paid a travel allowance of $300 per day for meals, incidentals and accommodation. The employee's annual salary is $33,000. The employee travels to a country in Europe that is not listed in Table 1 of Schedule 1. The reasonable daily overseas travel allowance expense claim is calculated as follows:

Cost Group 1 is used for the reasonable overseas travel allowance amount for a country not listed in Table 1.
Using Table 2, at a salary of $33,000 per annum the reasonable overseas travel allowance amount for Cost Group 1 is $65 for three meals and $25 for incidental expenses.

19. The travel allowance paid to the employee does not specify an amount for each of the components of the allowance, but it covers meals and incidental expenses. The employee is entitled to claim up to $90 per day for expenses incurred on three meals (that is, food and drink) and incidentals without substantiation provided he has incurred deductible meals and incidental expenses at least equal to $90. Written evidence is required to substantiate any accommodation cost claimed.

Date of effect

20. This Determination applies to the 2007-08 income year only. However, the Determination will not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10).

Commissioner of Taxation
27 June 2007

Appendix 1 - Explanation

SCHEDULE 1

Table 1: Table of Countries

If a country is not listed in Table 1 use the reasonable amount in Table 2 for Cost Group 1.

For an explanation of Cost Groups see Table 2 below.

Country Cost Group Country Cost Group
Albania 3 Estonia 3
Algeria 3 Ethiopia 1
Angola 6 Fiji 2
Antigua and Barbuda 5 Finland 5
Argentina 1 France 5
Austria 5 Gabon 5
Azerbaijan 3 Gambia 2
Bahamas 6 Georgia 1
Bahrain 3 Germany 5
Bangladesh 1 Ghana 3
Barbados 5 Gibraltar 4
Belgium 5 Greece 5
Bermuda 6 Guatemala 3
Bolivia 1 Guyana 1
Bosnia 2 Hungary 2
Brazil 4 Iceland 6
Brunei 2 India 3
Bulgaria 3 Indonesia 3
Burkina Faso 3 Iran 1
Cambodia 2 Irish Republic 5
Cameroon 4 Israel 4
Canada 5 Italy 4
Chile 2 Jamaica 3
China (includes Macau & Hong Kong) 4 Japan 5
Colombia 3 Jordan 4
Congo Democratic Republic 5 Kazakhstan 3
Cook Islands 3 Kenya 2
Costa Rica 1 Korea Republic 5
Cote D'Ivoire 5 Kuwait 4
Croatia 3 Laos 1
Cuba 4 Latvia 3
Cyprus 5 Lebanon 4
Czech Republic 3 Libya 3
Denmark 6 Lithuania 2
Dominican Republic 4 Luxembourg 4
East Timor 2 Macedonia 1
Ecuador 2 Malawi 1
Egypt 3 Malaysia 1
El Salvador 2 Mali 3
Eritrea 1 Malta 3

Country Cost Group Country Cost Group
Mauritius 2 Senegal 4
Mexico 2 Serbia 3
Monaco 5 Sierra Leone 4
Morocco 3 Singapore 3
Mozambique 1 Slovakia 2
Myanmar 3 Slovenia 2
Namibia 2 Solomon Islands 3
Nepal 1 South Africa 1
Netherlands 5 Spain 4
New Caledonia 6 Sri Lanka 1
New Zealand 3 Sudan 5
Nicaragua 1 Surinam 1
Nigeria 5 Sweden 4
Norway 6 Switzerland 5
Oman 4 Syria 2
Pakistan 1 Taiwan 3
Panama 3 Tanzania 1
Papua New Guinea 3 Thailand 1
Paraguay 1 Tonga 2
Peru 3 Trinidad and Tobago 4
Philippines 1 Tunisia 2
Poland 4 Turkey 4
Portugal 4 Uganda 1
Puerto Rico 5 Ukraine 5
Qatar 4 United Arab Emirates 4
Romania 3 United Kingdom 6
Russia 6 United States of America 5
Rwanda 2 Uruguay 2
Saint Lucia 4 Vanuatu 4
Saint Vincent 2 Venezuela 3
Samoa 3 Vietnam 2
Saudi Arabia 3 Zambia 3

Table 2: Reasonable amounts by cost groups

Cost Group Salary $87,200 and below Salary $87,201 to $155,000 Salary $155,001 and above
Meals Incidentals Total Meals Incidentals Total Meals Incidentals Total
1 $65 $25 $90 $90 $25 $115 $115 $30 $145
2 $80 $30 $110 $110 $35 $145 $140 $40 $180
3 $105 $35 $140 $130 $40 $170 $160 $45 $205
4 $130 $35 $165 $160 $45 $205 $190 $50 $240
5 $170 $40 $210 $210 $50 $260 $250 $60 $310
6 $205 $45 $250 $260 $50 $310 $300 $60 $360

Note: These amounts are determined by the Commissioner solely as the amounts that will be accepted for the exception from the requirement to obtain written evidence for substantiation purposes (see paragraph 33 of TR 2004/6).

Not previously issued as a draft

References

ATO references:
NO 2006/10830

Previous Rulings/Determinations:
TD 2004/19
TD 2005/32
TD 2006/43

ISSN: 1038-8982

Related Rulings/Determinations:

TR 95/18
TR 2004/6
TR 2006/10

Subject References:
accommodation expenses
domestic travel expenses
meal and food expenses
incidental expenses
overseas travel expenses
travel expenses

Legislative References:
TAA 1953
ITAA 1997 900-60

TD 2007/21 history
  Date: Version: Change:
  27 June 2007 Original ruling  
You are here 25 July 2007 Consolidated ruling Addendum
  25 May 2016 Withdrawn  

Copyright notice

© Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia

You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute material on this website as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).