ExpenseBot's per diem tracker lives at Add Expense → Add Mileage Expense → Add Per Diem. You enter your travel dates and destination ZIP code; the app queries the GSA API to return the correct M&IE tier for that location ($68–$92/day for FY2026 CONUS). Each travel day gets its own row with breakfast, lunch, and dinner checkboxes — all checked by default. Uncheck any meal that was provided externally (conference breakfast, client dinner, hotel package) to remove that meal's value from your claim.
First and last travel days automatically apply the IRS 75% rule (three-quarters of the daily rate per IRS Publication 463). Those days show greyed checkboxes to communicate that 75% is already in effect; you can still uncheck individual covered meals and the math stacks correctly. The app prevents claiming a full day's rate on a travel day by design.
The IRS 50% meal deduction limit is applied at report time on Schedule C line 24b — not to each individual day as you enter it. The preview shows both the gross M&IE claim and the net after-50% deduction so you can see the actual tax value of each trip.
Lodging is not available as a per diem for self-employed individuals. IRS Publication 463 requires actual lodging receipts. ExpenseBot handles lodging receipts as regular business expenses alongside the per diem meal claim in the same report.
Canadian users: when your tax profile is set to Canada, the app switches to CRA simplified method rates ($23 CAD per meal, max $69 CAD/day). The same B/L/D checkbox workflow applies.
All per diem entries are saved to your Google Sheets expense log with the GSA tier, trip dates, gross claim, and net deduction — providing an audit trail if needed.
See also: Per Diem Calculator — free standalone calculator to estimate your M&IE before a trip.