Alabama Per Diem Allowance

Calculate Alabama’s per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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Alabama is a key business destination in the southern United States. For organizations with employees traveling to Alabama, a clear per diem strategy is essential for managing expenses effectively.

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, is the standard method for handling travel reimbursements. This guide offers a detailed look at the federal per diem rates for Alabama, clarifies important state laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

Alabama Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Alabama are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a common benchmark for private sector companies looking to create an IRS-compliant reimbursement policy.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), key rates are broken down as follows:

Major Business and Tourist Centers

Alabama's primary cities and coastal destinations have their own designated Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • Huntsville (Madison County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a rate of $141 per night (Oct-Mar, Aug-Sep) and $134 per night (Apr-Jul).
  • Birmingham (Jefferson County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $126 per night.
  • Gulf Shores (Baldwin County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: Highly seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $216 per night (June-July) and rates as low as $134 per night in the off-season.

The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $55.50 for Huntsville and Gulf Shores, and $60.00 for Birmingham.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Alabama not specifically listed by the GSA—such as Montgomery (Montgomery County), the state capital—the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Alabama Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your business trip to Alabama with our easy-to-use calculator. Select the fiscal year, choose your destination, and input your travel dates. The tool will instantly provide the correct lodging and M&IE rates based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

Dates
Lodging (L)
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
Total (L + M&IE)
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Lodging (L)
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Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
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Total (L + M&IE)
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*For the first and last day of travel, M&lE spend is limited to 75% of its normal, daily allowance.

Alabama GSA Lodging Rates

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Alabama Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Alabama Per Diem Laws

For private employers in Alabama, state law provides flexibility, making the company's own policy the most important factor in managing travel expenses.

  • The Role of Company Policy In Reimbursement: Alabama state law does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. Therefore, establishing a clear, detailed, and consistently enforced travel policy is essential for setting expectations and managing expenses fairly.
  • Mandatory Reimbursement For Workers' Compensation: A key exception is that employers are required to reimburse travel expenses for an employee who must travel to receive medical care for a work-related injury.
  • Alabama's State Employee Travel Policy: The State of Alabama has a detailed travel policy for its public employees (Code of Alabama, Title 36-7-20). This policy sets specific reimbursement rates and rules, such as a uniform per diem for in-state overnight travel, that are separate from the GSA system.

Alabama Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's important to understand the distinction between the federal GSA system and Alabama's state law.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Alabama. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • Alabama State Law: Does not mandate expense reimbursement for private employers (except for workers' comp travel). The primary legal considerations are the employer's own policies and federal minimum wage laws (FLSA).

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in Alabama that federal agencies must use.
  • Alabama State Law: Does not set or regulate per diem rates for private companies. Businesses are free to set their own reimbursement rates or policies, though using GSA rates is a common best practice.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for federal travel.
  • Alabama State Law: Relies on the agreements made between an employer and employee, giving businesses flexibility while holding them accountable to their own written policies.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing business travel across Alabama's diverse industrial and business hubs requires a system that is both smart and efficient. Fyle's expense tracking software automates your entire travel and expense process, giving you powerful control and saving your team valuable time.

Here’s how Fyle streamlines your Alabama travel expense management:

  • A Flexible Policy Engine For Any Business Rule: Build your specific company travel rules directly into Fyle. Whether you follow GSA rates or a custom policy, Fyle automatically checks every submitted expense, preventing out-of-policy spend and ensuring compliance without manual review.
  • One-Click Expense Reporting For Traveling Employees: Your team can capture and submit expense receipts the moment a transaction happens. A quick text or a photo from the Fyle mobile app is all it takes to create a fully documented record, eliminating the need for paper receipts.
  • Simplified Corporate Card Reconciliation: For companies using corporate cards, Fyle offers direct integration with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. It provides real-time transaction feeds and helps employees reconcile their spending instantly, ending the monthly hassle of matching statements to receipts.
  • Accurate Mileage Tracking For Every Business Trip: Fyle’s integration with Google Maps provides a simple and IRS-compliant way for employees to log vehicle mileage, perfect for travel between Alabama's major business centers.
  • A Faster, More Accurate Financial Close: Fyle integrates seamlessly with leading accounting software like NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Xero. All approved expense data flows straight to your general ledger, eliminating hours of manual data entry and ensuring a faster, more accurate monthly close.

With Fyle, you can manage your Alabama travel expenses with confidence, providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees while maintaining perfect financial control.

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The content on this page is for informational use. As legal standards and per diem rates are subject to change, users should verify current details with official GSA or government resources. This information does not serve as financial or legal counsel.