Can I submit meal or hotel receipts if my assignment pays a travel per diem stipend?
Last updated: October 6, 2026
Applies to: US W-2 employees on travel assignments that pay a travel stipend (per diem). If you are an independent contractor, your expenses follow your own agreement instead; see How to submit an expense or mileage reimbursement.
Summary: Not for the days your stipend covers. Your stipend is your allowance for meals and lodging, so a meal or hotel receipt for the same day would pay you twice for the same thing, and it is not reimbursed. Business costs a stipend is not meant to cover, such as parking, tolls, or getting between your lodging and the worksite, can still be submitted if your assignment allows expenses.
What your stipend is for
A travel stipend is a set allowance for meals, incidentals and lodging while you are temporarily working away from home. It is set up on your assignment and paid automatically with your wages, with no receipts needed. See How per diem and travel stipends work.
What you can still submit
Costs a per diem stipend is not meant to cover can be submitted as a reimbursement, with a receipt and a business purpose, if your assignment lets you enter expenses. For example:
Parking and tolls for work.
Getting around at the assignment location, such as a rental car and fuel used for work, or travel between your temporary lodging and the worksite.
Supplies or equipment your job requires.
To submit one, follow How to submit an expense or mileage reimbursement.
What is not reimbursed
Meals, snacks, groceries and other incidentals on days your stipend covers.
A hotel or other lodging for nights your stipend covers.
A receipt for these is declined even when the receipt itself is in order, because the stipend has already paid for them. If you are not sure what your stipend is meant to cover on your assignment, ask your staffing partner before you submit meal or lodging costs.
Why it works this way
A per diem stipend is paid instead of reimbursing each meal and hotel bill one receipt at a time. Paying a receipt as well would pay for the same cost twice.
If something is wrong, or you are not sure who to ask
A receipt was declined and you think it should not have been (for example, it was for a day your stipend did not pay, or for a cost a stipend does not cover): email Ascen at support@ascen.com with the date, the amount and what the expense was for. See also Why an expense or reimbursement was declined: and when hours belong on a timesheet instead.
Your stipend amount looks wrong, or you are not sure whether your assignment includes a stipend or expense entry: ask your staffing partner, who sets up your assignment.
Your stipend was not paid, or its tax treatment looks wrong: email Ascen at support@ascen.com.