What is the GSA SmartPay Travel Account?

The GSA SmartPay Travel Account can be used for official government travel and travel-related expenses.

Travel and Tax Advantage Accounts:

  • Accounts may be either VISA or MasterCard.
  • Visa brand accounts will begin with 4486, 4614, 4615, or 4716. MasterCard brand accounts will begin with 5568 or 5565.  
  • Accounts may be issued by Citibank or U.S. Bank. 

Travel cards may have two different designs:

      

GSA SmartPay Travel Account Prefixes include

  • Visa: 4486, 4614, 4716
  • MC: 5565 and 5568

Federal government travelers using IBA Travel Accounts will be exempt from state taxes only in select states and a state tax exemption form may be required.  To determine whether the GSA SmartPay account is a CBA or an IBA, refer to the 6th digit of the account number.

The Sixth Digit Identifies Billing Type:

Note:  6th digit identifiers for IBAs apply to the Travel business line only.

IBA TRAVEL CARD:

Sixth Digit:
1,2,3,4

Billing Type:
Individually Billed
 

 

CBA TRAVEL CARD:

Sixth Digit:
6,7,8,9,0

Billing Type:
Centrally Billed
 

 

TAX ADVANTAGE:

Sixth Digit:
5

Billing Type:
IBA/ CBA
 

 

  • Centrally Billed Accounts (CBA): CBAs are GSA SmartPay accounts where payment is made directly to the bank by the Government.  
  • Individually Billed Accounts (IBA): IBAs are GSA SmartPay accounts where payment is made directly to the bank by the individual. 
  • Tax Advantage Travel Account: A combination of CBA and IBA. Charges for rental cars and lodging will be automatically billed to a CBA for payment.  Charges for other travel-related purchases such as meals and incidentals are billed to the IBA portion of the account.

Tax Advantage Travel Card Account

The Tax Advantage Travel Card Account allows travelers to receive state sales tax exemption for hotels and car rentals. Learn more about this new payment solution by watching the short video below.