P-Card or T&H Card: Which Should I Use?
Expense Type |
Purchasing Card |
Travel and Hospitality Card |
Additional Information |
| Advertising | ✔ | ||
| Airfare | ✔ | ||
| Car rentals | ✔ | ||
| Conference registrations and fees | ✔ | ✔ | Payment is preferred on a T&H Card, unless declined due to merchant code controls. If T&H Card is declined, or you do not have a T&H Card, a P-Card may be used. |
| Educational materials | ✔ | ||
| Flowers | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Food for research purposes | ✔ | ||
| Food/refreshments for events | ✔ | ||
| Gas for car rentals | ✔ | This does not include rentals from Iowa State Transportation Services. Gas for vehicles rented through Transportation Services should be paid with the WEX fuel card provided by Transportation Services. | |
| Gas for lab or farm use | ✔ | ||
| Gifts and door prizes | ✔ | ||
| Gift cards (Restaurant or coffee shop) | ✔ | If purchased at a restaurant or coffee shop, the purchase will decline on the Purchasing Card due to blocked merchant codes. | |
| Gift cards (Other) | ✔ | For information on Procurement Services Gift Card program, visit this page: https://www.procurement.iastate.edu/resources/purchasing-gift-cards | |
| Goods, materials, supplies | ✔ | Use of the P-Card is intended only for items not available from University Stores or through cyBUY contract requisitioning (or other university contracts); or for low-cost items needed immediately. | |
| Lodging (Hotel, Airbnb for Work) | ✔ | If securing lodging within the State of Iowa, all providers must be verified through the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking Website. | |
| Meals during employee travel | ✔ | ||
| Meals for hospitality events | ✔ | ||
| Meeting room expenses | ✔ | ||
| Parking fees | ✔ | ||
| Professional dues/memberships | ✔ | ✔ | Professional dues/memberships are preferred on the Purchasing Card but may decline due to merchant code controls, so if you experience a decline, you can try on your Travel and Hospitality Card. |
| Promotional Items | ✔ | ||
| Repair, technical, rental services | ✔ | ||
| Subscriptions | ✔ |
This chart is not an exhaustive list. If your question isn't answered here or you need more information, please contact cardservices@iastate.edu.