---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 C.F.R. § 304-3.11"
title: "41"
number: "304-3.11"
heading: "Handling unexpected non-Federal source payment offers after travel begins."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/41/304-3.11"
---

# §304-3.11. Handling unexpected non-Federal source payment offers after travel begins.

- (a) If an employee's agency has already authorized acceptance of payment for some of their travel expenses for that meeting from a non-Federal source, then the employee may accept on behalf of the agency, payment for any of their additional travel expenses from the same non-Federal source as long as—
  - (1) The expenses paid or provided in kind are comparable in value to those offered to or purchased by other similarly situated meeting attendees; and
  - (2) The agency did not decline to accept payment for those particular expenses in advance of the employee's travel.
- (b) If an agency did not authorize acceptance of any payment from a non-Federal source prior to travel, then—
  - (1) An employee may accept, on behalf of their agency, payment from a non-Federal source as authorized in this section—
    - (i) Only the types of travel expenses that are authorized by the travel authorization (i.e., meals, lodging, transportation, but not recreation or other personal expenses); and
    - (ii) Only travel expenses that are within the maximum allowances stated on the travel authorization;
  - (2) Employees must request their agency's authorization for acceptance from the non-Federal source within 7 working days after the trip ends; and
  - (3) If an agency does not authorize acceptance from the non-Federal source, the agency must either—
    - (i) Reimburse the non-Federal source for the reasonable approximation of the market value of the benefit provided, not to exceed the maximum allowance stated on the travel authorization; or
    - (ii) Require the employee to reimburse the non-Federal source that amount and allow the employee to claim that amount on their travel claim for the trip.
- (c) If an employee accepts payment from a non-Federal source for travel expenses in violation of paragraph [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) of this section, the employee may be subject to the penalties specified in [§ 304-3.16](/cfr/41/304-3.16.md).

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 31 U.S.C. 1353.

### Source

Source: FTR Case 2025-05, 90 FR 56893, Dec. 8, 2025, unless otherwise noted.