Estimate Temporary Lodging Expense reimbursement for PCS moves.
Max lodging rate for the locality.
Meals & Incidental Expenses rate.
Your actual nightly hotel rate (pre-tax).
Days claiming TLE (Max 10 or 14 usually).
Excluding spouse (35% factor).
Children under 12 (25% factor).
Service Member Traveling?
Spouse Traveling?
Total Percentage Factor0%
Max Daily Allowance (Ceiling)$0.00
Estimated Daily Payable$0.00
Total Estimated TLE$0.00
function calculateTLE() {
// Get Inputs
var locLodging = parseFloat(document.getElementById('locLodging').value) || 0;
var locMeals = parseFloat(document.getElementById('locMeals').value) || 0;
var actLodging = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actLodging').value) || 0;
var days = parseFloat(document.getElementById('numDays').value) || 0;
var over12 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('numOver12').value) || 0;
var under12 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('numUnder12').value) || 0;
var hasMember = document.getElementById('hasMember').checked;
var hasSpouse = document.getElementById('hasSpouse').checked;
// Logic based on Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) Chapter 5
// Base Factors
var percentage = 0;
// Determine Base Percentage for Member/Spouse
if (hasMember && hasSpouse) {
// Member + Spouse = 100%
percentage += 1.00;
} else if (hasMember || hasSpouse) {
// Only Member OR Only Spouse = 65%
percentage += 0.65;
}
// Add Dependents
percentage += (over12 * 0.35);
percentage += (under12 * 0.25);
// Calculate Daily Ceiling
// TLE Ceiling = (Local Lodging + Local M&IE) * Percentage
var dailyPerDiemTotal = locLodging + locMeals;
var maxDailyAllowance = dailyPerDiemTotal * percentage;
// Calculate Actual Claim Basis
// According to DFAS: The TLE daily entitlement is the LESSER of:
// 1. The maximum daily allowance (Calculated above)
// 2. The actual daily cost (Lodging + M&IE) * Percentage
// Note: Even if you spend less on lodging, the percentage multiplier often applies to the total entitlement calculation structure in JTR.
// However, a more accurate practical estimation for TLE is:
// (Actual Lodging Cost + Local M&IE Rate) * Percentage
// Capped by Max Daily Allowance.
var actualDailyBase = actLodging + locMeals;
var calculatedEntitlement = actualDailyBase * percentage;
// Determine Payable
var dailyPayable = Math.min(calculatedEntitlement, maxDailyAllowance);
var totalPayable = dailyPayable * days;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resPercentage').innerText = Math.round(percentage * 100) + "%";
document.getElementById('resMaxDaily').innerText = "$" + maxDailyAllowance.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resDailyPayable').innerText = "$" + dailyPayable.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resTotal').innerText = "$" + totalPayable.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding TLE Rates and Reimbursements
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) is an allowance intended to partially reimburse a Service member for lodging and meal expenses incurred while occupying temporary lodging in the Continental United States (CONUS) during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
How TLE Rates are Calculated
TLE is calculated based on the locality per diem rates of your temporary lodging station. The total reimbursement is determined by the number of authorized travelers and their relationship to the service member. The calculation formula generally follows these percentages applied to the local per diem rate (Lodging + M&IE):
Member or Spouse alone: 65% of the applicable per diem rate.
Member and Spouse together: 100% of the applicable per diem rate.
Dependents age 12 and over: 35% each.
Dependents under age 12: 25% each.
Calculation Logic
The TLE reimbursement is legally capped. Your daily payout is essentially the lesser of two numbers:
The Ceiling: The maximum daily amount allowed based on the percentages above applied to the maximum locality rate.
The Actuals: Your actual daily lodging cost plus the standard M&IE rate, multiplied by your family percentage factor.
Note: TLE is typically authorized for a maximum of 14 days for a PCS move involving a CONUS location. Financial regulations may change, so always consult with your local finance office or the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) for official auditing.