Foreign Travel & Subsistence

I don't know if they have been altered recently but civil service travel and subsistence expenses for foreign travel look very generous indeed.

Lots of developing countries on the list yet accommodation in places like India and Pakistan is allowable at USD 150 per night or more in some cases plus generous subsistence.

I presume there's nothing stopping anyone staying in a cheap hostel (or staying with a friend/relative) and pocketing the difference tax free.

It all seems to good to be true. Surely the reimbursement method is more realistic.

jokerini said:

I don't know if they have been altered recently but civil service travel and subsistence expenses for foreign travel look very generous indeed.

Lots of developing countries on the list yet accommodation in places like India and Pakistan is allowable at USD 150 per night or more in some cases plus generous subsistence.

I presume there's nothing stopping anyone staying in a cheap hostel (or staying with a friend/relative) and pocketing the difference tax free.

It all seems to good to be true. Surely the reimbursement method is more realistic.

Click to expand...

I'm not fully understanding your post. Can you give us an example please?

You really want to stay in a cheap hostel on a business trip to India or Pakistan? Or it in some cheap eatery?
But no, in general there is nothing stopping anyone in a cheap hostel and "pocket the difference". USD 150 doesn't get you very far if you want to stay in a reasonably safe international hotel.

Travel and subsistence rates are not necessarily high enough to make you rich but high enough that you shouldn't struggle do get fed and bedded safely whilst travelling.

jokerini said:

I don't know if they have been altered recently but civil service travel and subsistence expenses for foreign travel look very generous indeed.

Lots of developing countries on the list yet accommodation in places like India and Pakistan is allowable at USD 150 per night or more in some cases plus generous subsistence.

I presume there's nothing stopping anyone staying in a cheap hostel (or staying with a friend/relative) and pocketing the difference tax free.

It all seems to good to be true. Surely the reimbursement method is more realistic.

Click to expand...

If you think the rates are generous then you don't do too much travelling for work.
If you think that making an extra couple of hundred a month makes business travel worthwhile then you don't do too much travelling for work.
I used to travel a lot for work, over 100 flights a year, and it takes a massive physical and mental toll on you.