What are per diem rates for business travel?
Are per diem rates mandatory?
What are the most important things to know about per diem rates in Switzerland?
- Businesses must reimburse all expenses incurred by employees during work-related activities, as well as necessary living expenses for activities performed away from the employer’s premises.
- A fixed amount, such as a per diem or a weekly/monthly allowance, can be used to reimburse expenses, as long as it’s specified in an individual agreement, standard employment contract, or collective employment contract and covers all necessary costs.
- Any agreement that requires the employee to cover all or part of these necessary expenses is invalid.
- Based on the expense report submitted, expenses are typically reimbursed alongside the employee’s salary, unless a shorter period is customary or has been prearranged.
- When an employee regularly incurs expenses as part of their job, the employer must provide regular advances to cover these costs, with payments made at least once a month.
If there are no official per diem rates in Switzerland, what business travel expenses are covered?
Recognised business travel expenses
- General travel expenses: These include transport costs and incidental expenses like parking tickets and tolls related to business travel. Reimbursement is provided only for travel outside the designated place of work and excludes daily commutes to the office.
- Accommodation costs: Expenses for overnight stays during business trips are generally eligible for reimbursement. If an employee works away from home for an extended period, they may also be reimbursed for reasonable leisure and well-being expenses, such as gym passes or show tickets.
- Meals purchased during business travel: Meal costs incurred while travelling are typically eligible for reimbursement. They can be reimbursed either based on actual expenses or at a flat rate, however, there may be maximum allowances determined by both the employer and tax regulations.
Unrecognised business travel expenses
- Personal travel expenses (including the cost of regular commutes to the office)
- Traffic fines, including those incurred during business trips
- Expenses that don’t have the correct supporting documentation
Effective and flat rate expense reimbursement in Switzerland
Effective expense reimbursements
Flat-rate reimbursements
- Meals with business partners and customers
- Snacks during business travel (excluding lunch and dinner allowances)
- Public transport costs during business travel
- Car expenses for frequent use of a personal vehicle for business purposes
Are there any expense reimbursement limits in Switzerland?
- The effective reimbursement limit for lunch is CHF 35 with a receipt
- The flat-rate allowance for lunch is CHF 30
- The mileage limit for car expenses is set at 70 cents per kilometer
- For small expenses, there is a maximum daily flat rate allowance of CHF 20
Per diem rates in Switzerland: No fixed rates, but rules still apply
Frequently Asked Questions
How does my business set travel expense allowances for international travel?
What is the mileage allowance?