Adopt Thorough Travel Policy to Avoid Audit Problems

Many management companies charge employees’ travel expenses to site operating accounts. Travel expenses to visit sites, meet with owners, and attend training are allowed because charges involve work-related travel by employees who perform such frontline tasks as certification, accounting, or maintenance [HUD Handbook 4381.5, fig. 6-2]. But problems can occur if companies don’t keep track of who’s doing the traveling and for what purpose, or whether the travel expenses are reasonable or necessary.