P-Card or T&H Card: Which Should I Use?
Expense Type | Procurement Card | Travel and Hospitality Card | Additional Information |
| Advertising | ✔ | ||
| Airfare | ✔ | ||
| Car rentals | ✔ | ||
| Conference registrations and fees | ✔ | ✔ | Conference registrations can be purchased with the Procurement Card, but may decline due to merchant code controls, so if you experience decline you can try on your Travel and Hospitality Card. |
| 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 | ✔ | ||
| 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 | ✔ | ||
| Restaurant or coffee shop gift cards | ✔ | If purchased at a restaurant or coffee shop the purchase will decline on the procurement card due to blocked merchant codes. | |
| Other gift cards | ✔ | ||
| Parking fees | ✔ | ||
| Professional dues/memberships | ✔ | ✔ | Professional dues/memberships are preferred on the Procurement 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.