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Meal Allowance & Additional Meal Expenses

What are meal allowance and additional meal expenses? Definition and meaning

Meal allowances and additional meal expenses describe the extra costs a person incurs when they work away from their place of residence or their regular workplace for business or professional reasons. These professionally incurred costs, or travel expenses, can be claimed as business expenses or income-related expenses, for example with a travel expense report. The additional meal expenses incurred (e.g. fuel, meals) are listed there.

Meal allowances, on the other hand, are paid to employees as a lump sum for the duration of their trip. There are different meal allowances for business trips within the country and abroad, and depending on the duration (working day, full day, more than one day, etc.) of the away assignment.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the meal allowance and additional meal expenses?
Additional meal expenses describe the actual extra costs incurred for work reasons (e.g. fuel, meals), which can be claimed as business expenses or income-related expenses. The meal allowance, by contrast, is paid to employees as a lump sum for the duration of their trip.
What does the amount of the meal allowance depend on?
There are different meal allowances for business trips within the country and abroad, and depending on the duration of the away assignment, such as a single working day, a full day or more than one day.
How do I claim additional meal expenses?
The additional meal expenses incurred are listed in a travel expense report and settled there as travel expenses with the employer or the tax office.