Beginning in August, travelers will see new expense categories when completing a voucher in the Defense Travel System (DTS). The “Create Your Own Expense” option will be removed and replaced with seven new categories (denoted with **):
| Expense categories for authorizations and vouchers |
Expense categories for local vouchers |
| Government Automobile** |
Conference Registration Fee** |
| GTCC** |
Government Automobile** |
| International Travel Expenses |
GTCC** |
| Lodging Expenses |
International Travel Expenses |
| Mileage Expenses |
Occasional Meals and Lodging** |
| Misc. Expenses Medical or Special Needs** |
Mileage Expenses |
| POV Boat, Helicopter, and Airplane** |
Recruiting Expense** |
| Rental Car Expenses** |
Rental Car Expenses** |
| Ticketed Expenses |
Transportation Expenses |
| Transportation Expenses |
Z- Financial Reconciliation** |
| Z- Financial Reconciliation** |
|
| ZZ-Other Per Diem** |
|
The new categories align with authorized expenses in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), streamline the expense reporting process for travelers, and aim to improve travel policy compliance by significantly reducing the number of improper payments made for unauthorized and non-travel related expenses.
DTS users may get the update anytime between August 5 – 18, 2025, as the change is released in phases across the DTS userbase. Users will see an alert after login when their organization has been added to the Pilot.
Users are encouraged to review DTMO’s training resources, which have been updated with step-by-step guidance on the new expense selection process.
The JTR has also been updated to include a comprehensive list of authorized expenses. Refer to JTR, section 0204: Table 2-24a. Miscellaneous Reimbursable Expenses for Local Travel and Table 2-24b. Miscellaneous Reimbursable Expenses for TDY.
Travel managers can download a sample email and PowerPoint slide to help spread awareness of the change among their travelers.