Can I Use My Government Travel Card for Food

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC)?
1. Obtaining a Government Travel Charge Card
2. Types of Authorities Travel Charge Cards
3. Uses of a Government Travel Card
2. The Rules of a Government Travel Card
1. How to Responsibly Use Your Government Travel Carte
2. Incorrect Uses of a Government Travel Carte
3. Resources & Contact Information

You merely received your offset authorities travel charge card — the federal regime'due south version of a corporate travel credit card. Merely before your Wolf of Wall Street fantasies about perks and points come live, it's best to learn a scrap more about the authorities charge card program, what's expected of you as a cardholder, and how to use the card accordingly (and legally).

Within this article, we explore the basics of the authorities travel charge carte du jour program (specifically, the Department of Defense's Travel Carte program), the different types of charge cards offered, and how to obtain a card. Additionally, read on for some savvy tips on how to use (and how Not to utilise) your government charge card so that yous remain in command and out of trouble.

What Is a Government Travel Charge Carte (GTCC)?

A government travel charge carte (GTCC) is a commercial credit card offered to Section of Defence personnel (both military and noncombatant) to pay for costs related to authorities-specific travel. For military members, this may include permanent change of station (PCS) moves and temporary duty (TDY) assignments and then that the servicemember doesn't accept to pay for work-related expenses out of pocket.

Currently, credit cards issued under the GTCC program are past the commercial partner, CitiBank. Nevertheless, the program itself is managed by DoD program coordinators within the Defence force Travel Management Role (DTMO), who provide troubleshooting assistance to servicemembers and federal employees. While CitiBank bug GTCC credit bill of fare statements, DTMO remains the principal agency for setting policy regarding GTCC apply.

Obtaining a Government Travel Accuse Carte du jour

In general, armed forces members will non accept access to the GTCC program until it becomes a job requirement. Those who become eligible for holding a GTCC must outset complete an online training course and and so exist invited to utilize for the card through CitiBank.

Types of Regime Travel Charge Cards

At that place are two main classifications for government charge cards:

• Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs)

• Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs)

Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs)

Individually Billed Accounts are issued to servicemembers for travel and travel-related expenses, and with these types of cards, the servicemember is responsible for settling the account.

The Standard card options within this category are typically issued to those with a 660 or higher credit score and have a credit limit of $7,500.

In dissimilarity, the Restricted card option is issued to those with lower credit scores (500-659) and has a lower credit limit of $four,000. Restricted government charge cards are closely monitored and sometimes deactivated during periods when travel has not been canonical.

Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs)

Centrally Billed Accounts tin can also be used to pay for travel expenses.

These cards are settled directly by the U.S. regime (and then the cardholder has fewer personal responsibilities) and take express apply. Unlike Individually Billed Accounts, where the servicemember is personally liable for carte charges, Centrally Billed Accounts presume government liability.

Uses of a Government Travel Card

Canonical uses of a government travel charge card include, but are not excluded to:

• Lodging
• Meals (*not including alcohol)
• Rental automobile
• Fuel/gas
• Transportation (e.1000. airfare, railroad train, etc.)

For additional guidance on what constitutes "official travel," meet page 14 in the GTCC Regulations (2020) and the newly amended Joint Travel Regulations (2021).

The Rules of a Government Travel Menu

How to Responsibly Employ Your Government Travel Menu

Responsible use of your government charge card entails iii main activities:

1. Upstanding use of the card for official government travel expenses only;
2. Timely and accurate reporting of charges (often with printed receipts!);
3. Timely payment of the card's balance

The cardinal rule to follow: the regime accuse card is not to be treated equally a personal carte in any way. Information technology should be used only for official travel (commuting to work or going on a family vacation do not constitute "official travel").

Following the travel event (e.g., PCS or TDY), cardholders are expected to submit a "travel claims" written report inside five days of its determination in the Defense Travel System. This should include scanned receipts of individual charges besides every bit amounts (foreign currency charges must exist converted into U.Due south. dollars), dates, and descriptions.

Additionally, cardholders with Individually Billed Accounts are responsible for ensuring that the government travel card is ultimately paid off. When inbound trip report details in the Defense Travel System, cardholders are encouraged to use the split disbursement option to ensure that the servicemember is reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses and per diem rates while at the same time the charges on the regime credit bill of fare are settled in full.

Wrong Uses of a Authorities Travel Card

Although information technology isn't difficult to imagine the multitude of ways that servicemembers can get into hot water for misuse of government travel cards, the nearly mutual missteps involve:

• Using the carte for unofficial/not-approved travel or personal use
• Overspending
• Wrong utilise of carve up disbursement feature
• Failure to submit timely and/or accurate travel report in DTS
• Failure to pay card rest on time
• Including alcohol on receipts for DTS submission

In addition to accruing late fees, which begin at 75 days past the due appointment, cardmembers tin have their accounts suspended or terminated for improper employ of a authorities travel charge card. For more serious offenses, servicemembers may receive formal counseling, an Commodity 15, or fifty-fifty a courtroom-martial. Therefore, information technology's best to exist on the condom side and remember the basics for proper GTCC etiquette:

1. Use simply for official/approved government travel;
2. Provide a timely and authentic study in DTS, utilizing the split reimbursement option;
3. Ensure that GTCC is paid off in full by the due date

For more than information on the Department of Defense government travel accuse card:

Citi Customer Service: 1-800-200-7056 (or 757-852-9076 when calling collect)

GTCC Travel Aid Center: i-888-HELP1GO (1-888-435-7146)

Citi'southward Department of Defence Travel Card Webpage

Email for Department of Defense Travel Card Helpdesk

Department of Defence force GTCC Regulations (2020)Department of Defense force Joint Travel Regulations (2021)

Meaghan Doherty Myers is a freelance author, specializing in war machine benefits, personal finance, and defence force and security issues. She holds an M.A. in Strategic Studies and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins Schoolhouse of Avant-garde International Studies (SAIS) and recently graduated from the Russian language programme at the Defense Linguistic communication Institute in Monterey, CA. She is an Army spouse, a sometime ballet dancer, and a former direction consultant who lives with her husband and daughter in Alexandria, VA.

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Source: https://themilitarywallet.com/government-travel-card-rules/

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