The maximum base period for the initial order is four years with three, three-year options. Tax Exemption Status Is Your Account Centrally Billed or Individually Billed and What Does That Mean? Find out the details for each state by clicking here. %%EOF Travel cards may have twodifferent designs: GSA SmartPay Travel Account Prefixes include. The sale refund is remitted to the organization. What is the GSA SmartPay Purchase Account? Some agencies offer Foreign Currency Accounts to account holders, where payment solutions are offered in foreign currencies. 1436 0 obj <> endobj Agencies/ organizations reimburse employees only for authorized and allowable expenses. IBAs may be used for local travel only if authorized by written policy of the agency/ organization. In addition, a separate refund is provided to agencies and organizations based on improving speed of payment. There are three types of travel accounts: Centrally Billed (CBA), Individually Billed (IBA), and Tax Advantage Accounts. Become familiar with Federal travel policy: Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 4, Chapter 460 (4 FAM 460) and Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 14, Chapter 500 (14 FAM 500) for members of the Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In many instances, use of the account has eliminated the need for agencies to issue travel cash advances. If you need assistance finding the nearest ATM, contact the bank's customer service at the number on the back of your GSA SmartPay travel account. Remember: Do not use the ATM from your GSA SmartPay travel account to obtain cash for personal expenses. Your travel account may be suspended or cancelled due to delinquent payment. Please note that the 6th digit identifier used to differentiate Travel and Integrated accounts does not apply to Purchase accounts. What does an "Access Denied" message mean? How can travel managers make it happen? If you are a new travel program coordinator, you may not be very familiar with the GSA SmartPay travel program. Know and understand your responsibilities in accepting a GSA SmartPay travel account.

My account is blocked. The GSA SmartPay Master Contract, administered by GSA, is a fixed price, indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) type contract. For more information on the City Pairs Program, visit: https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-rates-pov-rates-etc/city-pair-program-cpp. My account is blocked.

A creditworthiness assessment is used as an internal control to ensure that account holders are financially responsible. The amount of the fee is listed in your Account Holder Agreement and is reimbursable. The Program has more than three million Purchase, Travel, Fleet, and Integrated accounts and supports more than 560 agencies/organizations. IBA Accounts: The GSA SmartPay Master Contract stipulates that liability for all charges rests with the individual account holder. All administrative functions, including billing and settlement, shall occur in the foreign currency desired by the agency/organization. Accounts will be established using IBA procedures, to include credit checks or other creditworthiness assessments. Account holders are directly responsible for all purchases charged to the IBA account. The account holder, or also known as cardholder, is the individual or agency/organization component designated by an agency/organization to receive an account. In some cases, a restricted account may be issued if the applicant has a low creditworthiness score or refuses a credit check. A restricted card includes constraints such as: To apply for a GSA SmartPay travel account, please follow these steps: New applicants should receive their GSA SmartPay travel account from the contractor bank to the address provided in your application within 10-14 calendar days from the time the application is submitted by your A/OPC. Please note, the 6th digit identifier that differentiates CBA and IBA accounts is specific to Travelaccounts only and does not apply to other GSA SmartPay business lines. Reducing the limit on individual transaction amounts; Limiting the types of transactions allowed; Issuing a declining balance card that automatically restricts dollar amount and transaction types; Limiting the dollar amount of transactions that can be applied to the card within a particular time period; Limiting the length of time a card remains active, such as for the length of time the account holder is in official travel status; and/or. The task order enables your agency/organization to directly work with one of the two GSA SmartPay contractor banks that provide travel account services. These accounts are often identified by their physical appearance as well as account numbers. Agency/organizations are able to reduce travel processing costs and earn refunds as annual spend has nearly tripled since the programs inception in 1998. Find out the details for each state by clicking here. Keep a record of exemptions and transactions, which include dates, vendors, and amount of taxes charged. Provide an address (typically your home address) where your GSA SmartPay travel account is to be mailed. Some states provide tax exemption on individually billed travel accounts (IBAs). Provide an address (typically your home address) where your GSA SmartPay travel account is to be mailed. Tax Exemption Status hbbd```b``A$4"yHx0i"nHh) This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. Additionally, the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) mandates use of the travel card/account in almost all cases (see FTR Subpart H 301-70.700 for exemptions). What does an "Access Denied" message mean? Keep a record of exemptions and transactions, which include dates, vendorsand taxes. Secure your GSA SmartPay travel account until you are ready to travel.

The GSA SmartPay Program has continued to grow through increased adoption asagencies/organizations realize benefits afforded under the program. Payment may be made directly by the account holder, agency/ organization, or in the form of a split disbursement in accordance with agency/ organization policy, Travel Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs)are established by agencies/organizations for official travel charges and official travel-related expenses. What Happens if I Become a Victim of Fraud?

This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date. The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-264) mandates Federal Government account holders to use the travel account for official government travel expenses. If the bank cancels an account due to delinquency, the bank may report that information to credit bureaus and the information will appear on the account holders personal credit report. Agency/Organization Program Coordinators (A/OPCs) will work with their GSA SmartPay 3 Contractor to identify Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) for rental cars and lodging to be excluded from taxes. When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality. Through the task order, A/OPCs set up accounts for account holders, manage accounts using the banks Electronic Access System (EAS), and resolve issues or questions by working directly with a bank representative. Specific to travel, the GSA SmartPay program provides account holders a means to pay for all travel and travel related expenses. Create new account Log in GSA SmartPay SiteSearch GSA SmartPay, Create new accountLog inGSA SmartPay site. Your agency/organization receives accounts and related services through the task order with the contractor bank selected. If your account does not work due to an MCC block, contact your program coordinator for advice or to get the block lifted. The GSA SmartPay Program has continued to grow through increased adoption asagencies/organizations realize benefits afforded under the program. The task order enables your agency/organization to directly work with one of the two GSA SmartPay contractor banks that provide travel account services. Travel Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs) are established by agencies/organizations for official travel charges and official travel-related expenses. Official travel expenses are broadly categorized as transportation, lodging, meals and incidentals. Also, the bank can pursue debt collection to obtain repayment of the charges. The combined features of CBAs and IBAs are a key characteristic of this product. The Program has more than three million Purchase, Travel, Fleet, and Integrated accounts and supports more than 560 agencies/organizations. The merchant chooses their MCC with their bank. Your agency head has granted an exemption. Learn more about this new payment solution by watching theshort video below. Travel Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs)are the most common travel account, issued directly to the employees by the customer agency/ organization to be used to pay for official travel and travel-related expenses. To help prevent misuse, the travel account may be electronically coded to be rejected at merchant locations that your agency has determined are not necessary for conducting official Government business. Bank personnel are not able to look up the PIN for you. Is the GSA SmartPay online training connected to my agency training? Note: 6th digit identifiers for IBAs apply to the Travel business line only. What do I need to do? In some cases, a restricted account may be issued if the applicant has a low creditworthiness score or refuses a credit check. Charges for other travel-related purchases such as meals and incidentals are billed to the IBA portion of the account, will still incur tax, and the individual traveler will still be liable for payment to the bank for those charges. To attend the event, she must either take a taxi or public transportation. Agencies/organizations generally use the Travel CBA to purchase common carrier transportation tickets for employee official travel through third-party arrangements, such as the GSA E-Gov Travel Service (ETS) for civilian agencies, the Defense Travel System (DTS) for the Department of Defense or permissible equivalent travel system. Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. It will be posted on the receipt and is also reimbursable, if allowed by your agency. Verify the Governments tax exemption or discount status with vendor prior to paymentor at the point of sale. This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. This section will provide information about the GSA SmartPay, why it exists and how it operates. What do I need to do? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The travel account allows individual account holders to pay for travel expenses and receive cash advances. When using the newTax Advantage Travel Card Account, charges for rental cars and lodging will be automatically billed to a CBA for payment, taking advantage of the Governments CBA tax exemption status for those types of accounts. GSA SmartPay Travel Account revenue funds the GSA City Pair reduced cost airline ticket program. The agency/organization is never responsible or legally liable for the account. 2019 GSA.

States will not exempt taxes on personal accountsand your agency will not have the ability to earn important refunds. Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. If the purchase is an IBA, then the liability falls on the account holder (see IBA accounts). Therefore, agencies should seek tax exemption when using a centrally billed card. Payment may be made directly by the account holder, agency/ organization, or in the form of a split disbursement in accordance with agency/ organization policy. You should receive your PIN within a few days of receiving your travel account; however, you may receive your PIN before you receive the travel account. This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. My account is blocked. Government account usage provides streamlined, best-practice processes that are consistent with private industry standards. Replacements for lost, stolen, broken, or otherwise unusable cards will be sent within 48 hours of the agency/organization request. Safety and Convenience:GSA SmartPay travel accounts significantly reduce or eliminate the need for agency imprest funds or cash. Find out the details for each state by clicking here. Once verified, Andrew will provide any required CBA forms to the hotel. Here is an example of how the Tax Advantage Travel Account will work: Andrew is on official government travel and is checking into the hotel using his Tax Advantage Travel Account. The GSA SmartPay Master Contract, administered by GSA, is a fixed price, indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) type contract. Even if the state does not exempt taxes for IBA transactions today, it is still required to exempt all CBA transactions. TheGSA SmartPaytravel program provides account holders a means to pay for all travel and travel related expenses. Your agency limits ATM use to a maximum dollar transaction over a specified period of time. A restricted card includes constraints such as: Note: You can contact your Agency/ Organization Program Coordinator (A/OPC) for your agency's specific process for assessing creditworthiness. Is the GSA SmartPay online training connected to my agency training? Yes, your travel account may be used for official government international travel at any merchant who accepts VISA or MasterCard. Program coordinators use MCCs to control what purchases are allowable. Verify that all CBAs are not assessed taxes and in the event that taxes are assessed, contact your fleetmanager immediately to initiate the reclamation process as soon as possible. If you are a new travel account applicant, then your agency is required to assess your creditworthiness in accordance with P.L. INTRODUCTION: GSA SmartPay Travel Training for Program Coordinators (A/OPCs), LESSON 3: Program Coordinator Responsibilities, LESSON 5: Dealing with Delinquency and Misuse, QUIZ: Quiz on GSA SmartPay Travel (A/OPC), https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-rates-pov-rates-etc/city-pair-program-cpp. Your agency/organization receives accounts and related services through the task order with the contractor bank selected. An official website of the United States government. Travel Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs) are issued directly to the employees of the customer agency/ organization to be used to pay for official travel and travel-related expenses. If you lose or forget the PIN, you must apply for a new one and it will be mailed to the address provided in the application. However, Sarah is able to use her GSA SmartPay travel account because her agency policy has authorized employees to use their IBA travel card for local travel and related expenses. Additionally, the GSA SmartPay program is the primary mechanism used to purchase airline, rail and bus tickets at significantly reduced fares under the GSA City Pairs Program (CPP). Call the bank's customer service for advice: (904) 954-7850 (collect calls from outside United States), (701) 461-2232 (collect calls from outside United States). Can I update my account information including name and email? Know and understand your responsibilities in accepting a GSA SmartPay travel account. Sign the back of your GSA SmartPay travel charge card, if applicable. Your agency head has granted an exemption. Verify that all CBAsare not assessed taxes and in the event the taxes are assessed, notify your program coordinator (A/OPC). The vendor does not accept the payment solution; The administrator of GSA has granted an exemption (see. IBAs may be used for local travel only if authorized by written policy of the agency/ organization. Is the GSA SmartPay online training connected to my agency training? Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries. Please note that the 6th digit identifier used to differentiate Travel and Integrated accounts does not apply to Fleet accounts. IBAs may only be issued to federal employees or employees of Tribes or Tribal Organizations. Official websites use .gov Provide an identifier to activate your travel account (and remember it!). Agencies/organizations may also make purchases through travel management centers, commercial travel offices, and through other government contracts. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. What do I need to do? This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. Secure your GSA SmartPay travel account until you are ready to travel. The Tax Advantage Travel Card Account is issued to an employee designated by the agency/organization in the employees name. Remember, ONLY use your travel account for authorized official travel expenses. If the account holder fails to pay his/her account on a timely basis, the bank may suspend or cancel the account and assess late charges and fees. Maintain copies of all receipts in order to verify taxes assessed. All GSA SmartPay Purchase Accounts are centrally billed (CBA) and should be exempt from State taxes. Government account usage provides streamlined, best-practice processes that are consistent with private industry standards. The ATM machine you use may charge an additional fee. Since the award of the inaugural GSA SmartPay Master Contract in 1998, the GSA SmartPay Program has provided convenient, efficient, and effective payment solutions for the Federal Government, Tribes and Tribal Organizations with a comprehensive portfolio of payment solutions including Purchase, Travel, Fleet, and Integrated charge card services. Presidential & Congressional Commissions, Boards or Small Agencies, Identity, Credentials, and Access Management. When using the Tax Advantage Travel Card Account, charges for rental cars and lodging will be automatically billed to a CBA for payment, taking advantage of the Governments tax exemption status for those types of accounts. GSA SmartPay Travel Account Prefixes include. Tax Exemption Status Agencies/ organizations reimburse employees only for authorized and allowable expenses. Maintaining records relating to all travel transactions; and. Be aware that: You are personally liable and responsible for all charges whether or not you are reimbursed by your agency; Your credit rating may be affected if the account is cancelled; You may be subject to disciplinary action and/or salary offset for late payment. Activate your GSA SmartPay travel account. Replacements for lost, stolen, broken, or otherwise unusable cards will be sent within 48 hours of the agency/organization request. The GSA SmartPay Program is the largest government charge card and related payment solutions program in the world. Additionally, the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) mandates use of the travel card/account in almost all cases (see FTR Subpart H 301-70.700 for exemptions). Agencies/organizations may also make purchases through travel management centers, commercial travel offices, and through other government contracts. What does an "Access Denied" message mean? The travel account must not be used for personal expenses unrelated to official Government travel. To participate in the program, Agencies/ Organizations issue a task order under the GSA SmartPay Master Contract and award their program to one of the GSA SmartPay contractor banks (Citibank or U.S. Bank). Become familiar with Federal travel policy: Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 4, Chapter 460(4 FAM 460) andForeign Affairs Manual, Volume 14, Chapter 500(14 FAM 500) for members of the Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State. Why did I receive it?

GSA SmartPay Tax Advantage Travel Card Accounts are new product offerings that combine an Individually Billed Account (IBA) and Centrally Billed Account (CBA), providing a means to obtain tax exemption automatically at the point of sale for rental cars and lodging charges. In addition, state tax exemption forms, official business travel documentationor a Federal Government ID may be required to receive state tax exemption. What Happens if I Become a Victim of Fraud? Government account usage provides streamlined, best-practice processes that are consistent with private industry standards. If you recently paid the bill, it may not have posted yet, or there may be other payment problems. In accordance with the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (PL 105-264), please use the GSA SmartPay Travel Account when you are on official federal government travel. Why do I need to take GSA SmartPay training? Do not use your government travel account for any personal expense. 2019 GSA. Provide an identifier to activate your travel account (and remember it!). The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-264) mandates Federal Government account holders to use the travel account for official government travel expenses. Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained. INTRODUCTION: GSA SmartPay Travel Training (Account Holders/ AOs), LESSON 3: Signing up for a Travel Account, LESSON 10: Contractor Bank Customer Service, QUIZ: GSA SmartPay Travel Account (Account Holders/AOs). In 1988, Congress mandated that federal employees use the government travel charge card for all payments of expenses related to official government travel, with some exceptions. Why did I receive it? Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department. Travel managers should ensure that all of their travelers use their government-issued travel charge card for all purchases of travel-related services or products such as rental cars, hotel rooms, and telephone or Internet service. If you have ATM authorization, the contractor bank will mail your ATM PIN separately. Through a master contract with multiple banks, the GSA SmartPay program enables agencies/ organizations across the Federal Government to obtain payment solutions to support mission needs. He will just need to pay for his Meals and Incidental Expenses. Specific to travel, the GSA SmartPay program provides account holders a means to pay for all travel and travel related expenses. Use of GSA SmartPay Fleet Accounts enable agencies/organizations to conveniently obtain fuel and maintenance for vehicles and equipment, as well as manage tax recovery efforts and collect detailed fleet management data. Through a master contract with multiple banks, the GSA SmartPay program enables agencies/ organizations across the Federal Government to obtain payment solutions to support mission needs. All GSA SmartPay Fleet Accounts are centrally billed (CBA) and should be exempt from state tax assessment. This exemption must also be documented in the rental agreement. Federal government travelers using IBA GSA SmartPay Travel Accountsmay be exempt from state taxes in select states. The most reliable method of identifying GSA SmartPay purchase and fleet charge cards is through the 4 digit Bank Identification Number (BIN). 112-194 before an account is issued. Agencies/Organizations must specify invoice elements in their task order level requirements. %PDF-1.7 % You are personally liable for all charges made on your travel account. Account holders are directly responsible for all purchases charged to the IBA account. The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-264) mandates Federal Government account holders to use the travel account for official government travel expenses. Why did I receive it? Should there be a fraudulent charges on your account, initiate the dispute process within 90 days of the purchase. The GSA SmartPay program provides charge cards to U.S. government agencies/departments, as well as tribal governments, through master contracts that are negotiated with major national banks. The account holder is responsible for: A creditworthiness assessment is used as an internal control to ensure that account holders are financially responsible. Fleet cards may have two different designs: GSA SmartPay FleetAccount Prefixes include. To determine whether the travel or integrated account is a CBA, IBA, or Tax Advantage Travel Account, refer to the 6th digit of the account number. This is considered to be misuse of the account, or use of a Federal payment solution by an authorized user for other than the official government purpose(s) for which it is intended. This is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the GSA. Inquire about ATM access from your A/OPC. 1478 0 obj <>stream In many instances, use of the account has eliminated the need for agencies to issue travel cash advances. INTRODUCTION: GSA SmartPay Travel Training (Account Holders/ AOs), LESSON 3: Signing up for a Travel Account, LESSON 10: Contractor Bank Customer Service, QUIZ: GSA SmartPay Travel Account (Account Holders/AOs). Find out what documents or receipts you will need to keep. Looking for more information on SmartPay?