PART TWO

Introduction

Your agency contracts with a commercial provider for government travel charge cards using the GSA SmartPay® contract. When traveling for the government, use of the government travel charge card is mandatory, unless an exemption has been granted. The travel charge cards contain identifiers to obtain negotiated government discounts for airfare and tax exemption.

Government travel charge cards are VISA or MasterCard brands and can be used at any location that accepts VISA or MasterCard credit cards, including internationally. This is what the travel charge cards look like :

The government travel charge card may be used only for authorized official travel and authorized travel related expenses. Official travel expenses are transportation, lodging, meals and incidentals. The travel charge card may not be used for personal expenses at any time. The travel charge card may be electronically coded to be rejected at merchant locations your agency has determined are not necessary for conducting official travel. In addition, specific spending limits have been set by your agency based on your travel needs.

The travel charge card will be in your name and must not be used by any other person. You are personally liable for all charges made on your travel charge card. Again, do not use your government travel charge card for personal expenses at any time.

For additional information about the GSA SmartPay® contract, visit
www.gsa.gov/gsasmartpay.