Virginia Per Diem Allowance

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

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From the bustling government hubs of Northern Virginia to the historic cities of Richmond and Williamsburg and the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia is a key destination for business and official travel. To manage travel expenses effectively across the Commonwealth, a clear understanding of per diem rates is essential. 

Per diem—a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses—is the standard for federal travel and a widely used benchmark for private businesses. This guide will provide a detailed overview of Virginia's per diem rates, relevant state laws, and how you can simplify the entire reimbursement process.

Virginia Per Diem Rates

Per diem rates for official travel within Virginia are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These rates are mandatory for federal employees and are frequently adopted by private companies as a fair and compliant standard. Virginia has numerous Non-Standard Areas (NSAs) with rates higher than the standard U.S. rate, particularly in the D.C. metro area and other major cities.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), key rates include:

Northern Virginia (D.C. Metro Area) 

Counties like Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun have some of the highest rates in the state due to their proximity to Washington D.C. and high cost of living.

  • In Arlington (as well as Alexandria and Fairfax), the M&IE rate is $92 per day. Lodging rates are highly seasonal:
    • $275 per night (October, January-February, September)
    • $196 per night (November-December)
    • $276 per night (March-May)
    • $183 per night (June-August)
  • In Loudoun County, the M&IE rate is $80 per day and the lodging rate is a flat $115 per night. The first and last day of travel M&IE rate is $60.00.

Other Major Cities 

Locations like Richmond and Virginia Beach have their own specific rates.

  • Richmond: The M&IE rate is $80 per day and the lodging rate is a flat $157 per night.
  • Virginia Beach: The M&IE rate is $74 per day. Lodging rates are seasonal, with a rate of $124 for most of the year (Oct-May, Sep) and a peak summer rate of $210 (Jun-Aug).

Standard CONUS Rate 

For any county or city in Virginia 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).

Virginia Per Diem Rate Calculator

To find the precise per diem allowance for your trip to any destination in Virginia, our calculator provides instant, accurate results based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

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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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*For the first and last day of travel, M&lE spend is limited to 75% of its normal, daily allowance.

Virginia GSA Lodging Rates

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Virginia Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Virginia Per Diem Laws

While GSA rates are the standard for federal travel, private employers in Virginia must adhere to the Commonwealth's own labor laws.

  • Virginia Wage Payment Act: The key statute in Virginia is the Wage Payment Act. This law requires employers to pay all wages and salaries due to an employee on established regular paydays.
  • Expense Reimbursement as "Wages": Crucially, Virginia law explicitly defines "wages" to include "reimbursements for expenses." This means that if an employer has a policy or agreement to reimburse employees for business expenses (like per diem or mileage), that promised reimbursement is legally considered wages. Therefore, the employer is legally obligated to pay it in a timely manner.
  • Deductions from Wages: Virginia law (§ 40.1-29) prohibits employers from making deductions from an employee's pay unless required by law (like taxes) or with the employee's written and signed authorization. An employer cannot unilaterally deduct the cost of a business expense from an employee's paycheck.
  • No State-Mandated Per Diem Schedule: Virginia does not have a state law that requires private employers to use a per diem system or to reimburse all business expenses. However, if they promise to do so in a policy or contract, that promise is legally binding under the Wage Payment Act.

Virginia Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The legal framework for per diem in Virginia differs significantly for private sector employees compared to federal employees.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees traveling on official business to or within Virginia.
  • Virginia Law: The Virginia Wage Payment Act applies to private-sector employees, ensuring that if reimbursement is promised, it is paid as wages.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): The GSA sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in Virginia, which federal agencies must use.
  • Virginia Law: The state does not set per diem rates. Private companies can create their own reimbursement policies. If they use per diem, GSA rates are a common and defensible benchmark, but not a legal requirement.

Legal Foundation

  • Federal Law (GSA): A comprehensive regulatory system designed to create a uniform and cost-controlled standard for all government travel.
  • Virginia Law: Focuses on ensuring employers honor their agreements. By defining expense reimbursements as "wages," the law provides employees with a strong legal tool to claim any promised payments.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

From the high-cost D.C. suburbs in Northern Virginia to the beaches of the south, managing travel expenses across the Commonwealth requires precision and adherence to your company’s policy. Automating this process with Fyle is the key to ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Fyle’s expense management software helps you master Virginia travel expenses:

  • Automated and Accurate Rate Calculation: Fyle automatically applies the correct GSA per diem rates for any location in Virginia, instantly factoring in seasonal lodging changes and the 75% M&IE rule for travel days.
  • Enforce Your Company’s Policy: Because your reimbursement policy is legally binding in Virginia, enforcing it is critical. Fyle allows you to build your specific rules directly into the system, automatically flagging any submissions that are out of policy.
  • Effortless Expense Submissions: Employees can say goodbye to manual expense reports. With Fyle, a simple photo of a receipt from our mobile app or a forwarded email is all it takes to capture an expense in real-time.
  • Proactive Compliance Engine: Fyle checks every expense against your policies before it can be submitted. This real-time auditing prevents errors and policy violations, freeing up your finance team for more strategic work.
  • IRS-Compliant Mileage Tracking: For employees driving across the state, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker provides an easy and accurate way to log business miles, ensuring your records are always compliant.
  • Seamless Accounting Integration: Fyle integrates with all major accounting software, including NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. This ensures all approved per diem and travel data syncs directly to your general ledger, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring financial records are always up-to-date.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage your Virginia per diem process, ensuring you meet your policy obligations while making the experience seamless for your traveling employees.

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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.