Missouri Per Diem Allowance

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

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Positioned at the crossroads of America, Missouri's economy is a diverse mix of corporate headquarters, advanced manufacturing, and agricultural innovation. Business travel here isn't confined to one location. For companies managing this bi-state travel, a clear and efficient per diem policy is essential.

This guide is designed to bring clarity to that process. We'll explore the official GSA per diem rates for Missouri's key metro areas, explain the state's legal landscape regarding employee expenses, and show you how to streamline your reimbursement system.

Missouri Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Missouri 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 Metro Areas

Missouri's two largest metro areas, located on opposite sides of the state, have their own designated Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • St. Louis (St. Louis City & St. Louis and St. Charles Counties):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $150 per night.
  • Kansas City (Jackson, Clay, Cass, & Platte Counties):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $135 per night.

The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $64.50 for St. Louis and $60.00 for Kansas City.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Missouri not specifically listed by the GSA—including other major cities like Springfield (Greene County) or the state capital of Jefferson City (Cole County)—the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Missouri Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your business trip to Missouri 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.

Missouri GSA Lodging Rates

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Missouri Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Missouri Per Diem Laws

For private employers in Missouri, state law provides significant flexibility, making a company's own internal policy the most critical factor in managing travel expenses.

  • Reimbursement As A Matter of Employment Agreement: Missouri law does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. Therefore, the duty to reimburse is established by the agreement between the employer and employee, which is most often detailed in the company's official travel and expense policy.

  • Deductions From Wages: A key consideration is that Missouri's labor laws allow employers to make deductions from an employee's wages for things like damaged equipment, provided it does not take their earnings below minimum wage. While not specific to travel, this underscores the importance of having a formal reimbursement policy to avoid any appearance of improperly passing business costs onto employees.

  • Missouri's State Employee Travel Regulations: The State of Missouri has its own detailed travel regulations for its public employees. This policy sets specific reimbursement rates and rules for lodging and meals that are separate from the GSA's combined M&IE per diem system.

Missouri Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

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

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Missouri. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • Missouri State Law: Does not mandate expense reimbursement for private employers. 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 St. Louis and Kansas City that federal agencies must use.
  • Missouri 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.
  • Missouri 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

For businesses managing teams in both St. Louis and Kansas City, maintaining consistent policies and a clear view of spending is essential. Fyle provides the tools to centralize control and simplify the process for everyone involved.

Here’s how Fyle helps you manage your statewide Missouri operations:

  • Unified Policy Enforcement Across All Locations: Fyle allows you to create a single, automated travel policy that applies to all employees, whether they are in St. Louis or Kansas City, ensuring fairness and consistent compliance without manual oversight.

  • Real-Time Visibility Into Your Entire Travel Budget: Gain a consolidated view of all travel expenses from across the state in one live dashboard. This eliminates information delays and empowers finance leaders to make proactive decisions based on current spending.

  • Instant Expense Submission For Employees On The Go: Your traveling team members can submit expenses the moment they occur using Fyle, ensuring that managers have immediate visibility into their team's spending, no matter their location.

  • Accurate Mileage Logging For Interstate Travel: For employees driving between the state's major hubs, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker provides a simple and IRS-compliant way to log trips, ensuring fair reimbursement for every mile.

  • A Single, Streamlined Process For A Faster Close: By integrating with your existing corporate cards and accounting software, Fyle creates one seamless workflow for all expenses, drastically reducing the time it takes for your finance team to reconcile accounts and close the books each month.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage a decentralized workforce in Missouri, providing a modern and efficient expense process for your employees while maintaining complete 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.