Five Common TDY Travel Voucher Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

As someone who has learned voucher lessons the hard way, I can tell you that travel voucher errors delay your reimbursement and create unnecessary frustration. I learned everything through rejected submissions and frustrating correction cycles. Avoiding these common mistakes ensures you get paid quickly after your TDY ends.

Missing Receipts

Probably should have led with this because it’s the most common problem: keep receipts for lodging, rental cars, fuel, and any expense over $75. Take photos of receipts the moment you get them. Paper receipts fade fast and get lost in luggage during travel. Store digital copies in a dedicated folder on your phone.

Wrong Dates

Your voucher dates must match your orders and actual travel. Any discrepancies trigger audits and delays. Double-check your departure and return dates before submission. Has gotten complicated with all the DTS updates over the years, but even minor errors require correction and restart the entire approval process.

Incorrect Per Diem Claims

That’s what makes this endearing to auditors: don’t claim full per diem for days when meals were provided. Conference meals, government-provided meals, and DFAC meals all require per diem adjustments. Check your daily log to ensure accuracy.

Late Submission

Submit your voucher within five business days of returning. Late vouchers face additional scrutiny and processing delays. Set a calendar reminder before you even leave for TDY so you don’t forget.

Missing Authorizations

Any expense outside normal TDY costs needs pre-approval. Unauthorized expenses get denied no matter how necessary they seemed at the time. When in doubt, ask before spending.

The Bottom Line

Take time to prepare accurate vouchers. A few extra minutes reviewing your submission prevents weeks of waiting for corrections. Keep organized records throughout your trip and your voucher practically writes itself.