Tennessee Per Diem Allowance

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

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Tennessee is a key destination for business travel in the Southeast. For organizations with employees on the move in Tennessee, a clear and efficient per diem strategy is essential for managing expenses.

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 Tennessee, clarifies important state laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

Tennessee Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Tennessee 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 and Business Centers

Tennessee's primary cities have their own designated Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates that are higher than the standard U.S. rate.

  • Nashville (Davidson County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak rate of $248 per night (Sep-Oct) and a rate of $217 per night for all other months.
  • Memphis (Shelby County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $129 per night.
  • Knoxville (Knox County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $119 per night.

The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $64.50 for Nashville and $55.50 for Memphis and Knoxville.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Tennessee not specifically listed by the GSA, the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Tennessee Per Diem Rate Calculator

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

Tennessee GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
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County
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Tennessee Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
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Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important Tennessee Per Diem Laws

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

  • The Importance of A Written Company Policy: Tennessee law does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. Therefore, establishing a clear, fair, and consistently enforced travel policy is essential for managing employee expectations and avoiding potential disputes.
  • Tennessee's State Employee Travel Regulations: The State of Tennessee has its own comprehensive travel regulations for its public employees (Policy 8). 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.

Tennessee Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

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

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Tennessee. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • Tennessee 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 various locations in Tennessee that federal agencies must use.
  • Tennessee 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 for fairness and compliance.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for federal travel.
  • Tennessee 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 Tennessee requires a smart, efficient system. Fyle's expense management platform automates your entire travel and expense process, giving you powerful control and saving your team valuable time.

Here's how Fyle streamlines your Tennessee travel expense management:

  • Automated Policy Engine for Complete Control: 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 integrates with Google Maps to provide a simple and IRS-compliant way for employees to log vehicle mileage, perfect for travel between Tennessee's major business hubs.
  • A Faster, More Accurate Financial Close: Fyle integrates seamlessly with leading accounting software like NetSuite, Sage, 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.
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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.