TA DA Tour Calculator for Government Employees
Calculate official tour Travelling Allowance (TA) and Daily Allowance (DA) entitlements across Pay Levels 1–18. Computes air/train fares, hotel room ceilings with the mandatory 25% rate hike, daily food allowances, and local conveyance.
Configure Tour Parameters
Official Tour TA/DA Claim
Traveling Allowance & Daily Allowance on Tour: 7th CPC Rules & Limits
When Central Government personnel travel away from their permanent headquarters on official duty, tour, training, or inspection, compensation is governed by the Traveling Allowance (TA) Rules administered by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance (OM No. 19030/1/2017-E.IV dated 13.07.2017). Designed to fully reimburse necessary expenditure incurred during travel, TA claims comprise travel fare reimbursement, hotel room accommodation ceilings, intracity local transport, and a standardized Daily Allowance (DA) for food.
Entitlements Schedule Across Pay Matrix Levels
Entitlements for official tour travel are categorized into five distinct level tiers:
| Pay Matrix Level | Travel Mode & Class Entitlement | Hotel Accommodation Ceiling | Daily Food Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 14 & Above | Air Business / Club Class, or AC-1 Train | Up to ₹7,500 per day | ₹1,200 per day |
| Levels 12 & 13 | Air Economy Class, or AC-1 Train | Up to ₹4,500 per day | ₹1,000 per day |
| Levels 9 to 11 | Air Economy Class, or AC-2 Train | Up to ₹2,250 per day | ₹900 per day |
| Levels 6 to 8 | AC-2 Tier Train, or AC Chair Car | Up to ₹750 per day | ₹800 per day |
| Levels 5 & Below | AC-3 Tier Train, or Sleeper Class | Up to ₹450 per day | ₹500 per day |
Lump-Sum Food Reimbursement & Absence Hours Rule
Under the simplified 7th CPC rules, employees are no longer required to produce restaurant receipts or food bills for daily meals. Instead, Daily Allowance (food bill reimbursement) is paid as an unconditional lump sum based strictly on the total hours of absence from headquarters:
- Absence of Less than 6 Hours: 30% of the daily food allowance rate is admissible.
- Absence Between 6 and 12 Hours: 70% of the daily food allowance rate is admissible.
- Absence Exceeding 12 Hours: 100% of the daily food allowance rate is admissible.
Realistic Worked Claim: Level 7 Officer on a 3-Day Tour
Consider an Inspector in Level 7 stationed in Lucknow who undertakes an official 3-day (72 hours total absence) tour to New Delhi, traveling via AC-2 Tier Train (round-trip ticket = ₹3,200), staying 2 nights in an empanelled hotel (room tariff ₹750/night = ₹1,500 total):
| Claim Head | Calculation Basis | Admissible Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Train Travel Fare | AC-2 Tier round-trip ticket (Lucknow–Delhi–Lucknow) | ₹3,200 |
| Hotel Accommodation (2 Nights) | ₹750 per night × 2 nights (supported by GST voucher) | ₹1,500 |
| Daily Food Allowance (3 Days) | ₹800/day × 3 days (100% rate for >12 hrs absence) | ₹2,400 |
| Local Intra-City Conveyance | Non-AC Taxi / Auto charges between station, hotel & office | ₹850 |
| Total Reimbursable TA/DA Claim | Sum of all admissible heads | ₹7,950 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are food bills required to claim daily allowance on tour?
No. Under 7th CPC guidelines, daily food allowance is paid as a fixed lump sum based on the hours of absence without mandating food receipts.
2. What is the time limit for submitting a TA tour claim bill?
Under Rule 290 of General Financial Rules (GFR), a traveling allowance claim must be submitted within 60 days of completing the return journey, failing which the claim lapses.
3. Can an officer fly by private airlines for official tour?
Under current Department of Expenditure guidelines, air tickets must be booked through three authorized travel agents: Balmer Lawrie & Co., Ashok Travels & Tours, or IRCTC.
4. Is TA/DA reimbursement subject to Income Tax?
No. TA and DA reimbursed for official tour expenses are 100% tax-exempt under Section 10(14)(i) of the Income Tax Act.
Official Tour TA/DA Entitlements Under 7th & 8th CPC
Tour Travelling Allowance defrays expenses incurred by central government personnel travelling on temporary official duty. Under Ministry of Finance OM No. 19030/1/2017-E.IV, allowances are segmented into four distinct elements.
1. Travel Class Entitlement
• Levels 14+: Business / Club class by air; AC 1st Class by train.
• Levels 12 to 13A: Economy class by air; AC 1st Class by train.
• Levels 9 to 11: Economy class by air; AC 2nd Class by train.
• Levels 6 to 8: AC 2nd Class / AC Chair Car by train (Air travel requires prior financial concurrence).
• Levels 1 to 5: AC 3rd Class / AC Chair Car by train.
2. 25% Increase on DA Crossing 50%
As Dearness Allowance crossed the 50% threshold on January 1, 2024, statutory rates for hotel room accommodation, daily food reimbursement, and local mileage allowances automatically increased by 25%. For example, Level 6–8 hotel ceiling rose from ₹750 to ₹938/day, and daily food allowance increased from ₹800 to ₹1,000/day.
3. Tour Duration Slabs for Food Allowance
On transit/travel days:
• Less than 6 Hours: 30% of daily food allowance entitlement.
• 6 Hours to 12 Hours: 70% of daily food allowance entitlement.
• Exceeding 12 Hours: 100% of daily food allowance entitlement.