Why is it important for travelers to keep their receipts?

Keeping receipts is essential for travelers primarily because it allows them to justify and support their reimbursement claims. In the Defense Travel System (DTS), travelers must provide documentation for expenses incurred during official travel. Receipts serve as evidence of the expenditures, ensuring that claims for reimbursement align with government rules and regulations. Proper documentation not only validates the expenses but also facilitates a smoother review and approval process by the finance office.

Maintaining a record of personal spending, while useful in some contexts, is not the main reason for keeping receipts in the framework of official travel. Similarly, recording mileage or comparing prices for future trips are not central to the purpose of documentation in DTS. The focus should be on substantiating claims based on incurred expenses, which ultimately influences the efficiency and accuracy of the reimbursement process.