How can I add per diems to my return? It is added into my gross amount this year.

Assuming that you were a W-2 employee, and you received a W-2 that included your per-diem in wages, you would enter Form W-2 in TurboTax.

If you are a W-2 employee:

Your per diem may or may not be taxable.  

Your per-diem payments aren't taxable if they are within the IRS-established rates. 

This means if you are a W-2 employee, you do not have to report these payments as income, and your employer does not need to withhold taxes on them.

If your employer pays a per diem or mileage allowance that exceeds the amount specified by IRS rules, your employer must report the excess as wages on Form W-2. The excess amount is subject to income tax withholding and Social Security and Medicare taxes.

You can ask your employer if you have questions about your per diem being included in your wages.

Your Per-Diem is not taxable if:  

• if the payment is equal to or less than the federal per diem rate
• And the employer receives an expense report from the employee.  The business purpose of the trip.
• The employee must file the expense report with the employer within a reasonable period of time (60 days).
• If any of these requirements are not met, the payment is taxable to the employee.

Your Per-Diem is taxable if: 

• No expense report is filed with your employer
• The expense report filed does not include these: date, time, place, amount and business purpose of your expense
• A flat amount is given to the employee and no expense report is required or
• Per diem is paid in excess of the allowable standard federal rate
• These per diem payments listed above would be treated as wages and employment taxes are due from the employer.

Publication 1542 lists federal per-diem rates per State and County.

 Click here for additional information on "Per Diem"