Per Diems

[Flypilot]

I have for the last number of years at my company gotten $35/day for meals. If overnighting my employer covers my room or reimburses me for that cost. I recently requested an increase in per diem pay and was told they're willing to increase it if I find out what is fair and legal so we don't run into problems in the future if there was an audit. So I gave CRA a call today to ask about it and was told I have to be away from base minimum of 36 hours before any tax free benifits kick in. Before the 36 hours even my hotel room is taxable. It's always seemed to me that most companies have a way better system then we do but how are they able to do this? I know of a few companies paying $3/hr (I thought tax free) while away from base. Anyone willing to explain to me how this works? I'd appreciate the help!

[Mostly Harmless]

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/travelcosts/

[Flypilot]

I came across that page as well, my understanding is that's the amount you can claim when doing year end taxes. I can't claim that because it's already been reimbursed to me by my employer. At least that's what CRA explained to me. I'm looking for a set amount my employer can legally pay me tax free to cover expenses. Either weeks, days, or hours away from base.

[schnitzel2k3]

Canadian Pilot Pay will list (for the most part) the per diems a lot of companies pay.

You can average around 2.50-3.5 an hour roughly (some higher but rare) working out to between 60-85 a day.

Not to say ignore the CRA guidelines, but they probably would have been the last person I would have called hehe.

S.

[Roar]

http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/inde ... 8&lang=eng

http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/app_ ... =eng&let=N

Here is a good place to start your negotiations from.

[Liftdump]

For $35.00 a day you don't get meals. Drop the "s"

[Mostly Harmless]

What I read in there was $51 a day, but I like the directive page better as it shows a more realistic $78 a day.

[AuxBatOn]

78 a day for meals and 17 for incidentals. Total of around $98 a day in the southern provinces. The same is USD while in the US.