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Common Fee Assessments
To manage the cost of doing business, UB assesses units for personnel related services, income-generating efforts and research activities. Learn how and on what funds UB applies fees to business operations.
On this page:
Fringe Benefits cost refer to those disbursements incurred for the benefit of employees that are not part of their pay (expressed as a percentage).
The assessment of Fringe Benefit charges differs for each state funding sources.
State Operating
Benefits are paid directly through the Office of the State Controller and are not charged at the campus account level.
Dormitory Income Fund Reimbursable (DIFR)
Fringe Benefits are assessed on Personal and Temporary Service expenditures (excluding student, teaching and graduate assistants).
Beginning 7/1/2025, DIFR accounts are assessed at the SUNY Assessment rate.
Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR)
Fringe Benefits are assessed on Personal and Temporary Service expenditures (excluding student, teaching and graduate assistants).
- Beginning 7/1/2025, IFR accounts are assessed at the SUNY Assessment fringe rate.
- Funding received into IFR accounts through salary recovery is calculated at the Federal fringe rate.
State University Tuition Reimbursement (SUTRA)
Fringe Benefits are assessed on Personal and Temporary Service expenditures (excluding student, teaching and graduate assistants).
Beginning 7/1/2025, SUTRA accounts are assessed at the SUNY Assessment rate. The university has chosen to centrally absorb summer/winter (SUTRA) fringe assessments. Although the 40% SUNY Assessment will be posted monthly to department SUTRA accounts, the charges will be credited the following month.
| State Fringe Rates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Federal | SUNY Assessment | |
| Retirement | 19.83% | |
| Social Security | 5.59% | |
| Health Insurance | 33.69% | |
| Dental Insurance | 0.39% | |
| Workers' Compensation | 3.09% | |
| Unemployment Benefits | 0.03% | |
| Survivors' Benefits | 0.07% | |
| Vision Benefits | 0.06% | |
| Employee Benefit Funds | 0.97% | |
Total: | 63.72% | 40.00% |
Fringe Assessments:
- Fringe is posted approximately 2 weeks following the end of the month and is back dated to the end of month date.
- Fringe charges are posted to cash as a reduction to Revenue and can be viewed in SIRI Financial under State Funds > State-IFR/SUTRA.
| Fiscal Year | Federal | Non-Federal | Summer/Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 63.72% | 63.95% | 29.70% |
| 2023-24 | 63.72% | 63.95% | 29.70% |
| 2022-23 | 63.72% | 63.95% | 29.70% |
| 2021-22 | 61.85% | 62.70% | 28.90% |
| 2020-21 | 57.71% | 62.39% | 27.40% |
| 2019-20 | 60.96% | 63.86% | 26.90% |
| 2018-19 | 62.48% | 63.89% | 26.10% |
| 2017-18 | 59.97% | 61.48% | 24.00% |
| 2016-17 | 54.61% | 58.71% | 28.46% |
The General University Service Fee is a flat rate charged to revenue deposited in State Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR), University at Buffalo Foundation(UBF), Research Foundation(RF) or Campus Dining and Shops (CDS) accounts.
Effective November 1, 2011
| General University Service Fee (GUSF) | 13.00% |
The Salary Recovery Fee is a flat fee, charged on Salary Recovery funds deposited into Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR) Accounts. These funds are utilized to preserve research infrastructures, service and facility compensation.
Effective November 1, 2011
| Salary Recovery Fee | 20.00% |
Indirect costs are real costs related to sponsored projects that are not easily attributable to individual projects, such as maintenance, security, heating, cooling, lighting, space, disposal of hazardous waste, secretarial support, the library, and cost of compliance with government regulations.
F&A or Indirect Cost Rates
Type | On-Campus | Off-Campus | ||||
| Fiscal Year | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| Research | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Federal or federal flow through | 60.1% MTDC | 60.1% MTDC | 60.1% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC |
| Non-Federal | 60.1% TDC | 60.1% TDC | 60.1% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC |
| Instruction | ||||||
Federal or federal flow through | 55.5% MTDC | 55.5% MTDC | 55.5% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC |
| Non-federal | 55.5% TDC | 55.5% TDC | 55.5% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC |
| Other Sponsored Programs | ||||||
| Federal or federal flow through | 42% MTDC | 42% MTDC | 42% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC |
| Non-federal | 42% TDC | 42% TDC | 42% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC | 26% TDC |
| Clinical Trials | ||||||
| Federal or federal flow through | 60.5% MTDC | 61% MTDC | 60.1% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC | 26% MTDC |
| Non-federal | 32% TDC | 32% TDC | 32% TDC | 32% TDC | 32% TDC | 32% TDC |
| IPA | ||||||
| Federal or federal flow through | 8.5% MTDC | 8.5% MTDC | 8.5% MTDC | 8.5% MTDC | 8.5% MTDC | 8.5% MTDC |
| Non-federal | 8.5% TDC | 8.5% TDC | 8.5% TDC | 8.5% | 8.5% TDC | 8.5% TDC |
| Type | Endowment Principal Gifts | Expendable Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | 0% | 5% |
Endowment Fund Revenues
No fee is deducted from any gifts to the principal of an endowment. However, an endowment fee amounting to approximately 1% of the value of each endowment fund is charged each year.
Charitable Trusts and Gift Annuities
An annual fee of approximately 0.5% of the beginning-of-the-year market value is charged for all charitable trusts we administer. A fee of less than 0.5% of the beginning-of-the-year market value is charged on the annual income allocation for all gift annuities we administer. Standard gift revenue fees are applied to the final distribution of trust or annuity assets. Standard gift revenue fees are applied upon receipt of distribution from the trust for charitable trusts we do not administer.
Sponsored Program Revenues
The office of Sponsored Projects Services determines the fee structure for privately funded sponsored programs.
Activity and Service Revenues
Most non-gift revenues, including activities and service revenues, are subject to the General University Service Fee (GUSF) established by UB.
Related Policies, Training and Links
Policies
Training
Contact an Expert
IFR Fringe and GUSF
![Sean Gardner.]()
Sean Gardner
IFR, Revenue Accounting and Treasury Management
Financial Management
Phone: 716-645-2621
Email: spg1@buffalo.edu
RF Fringe and Indirect Cost Rate
Salary Recovery Fee
Erin Guiffrida
IFR, Revenue Accounting and Treasury Management
Financial Management
Phone: 716-645-2601
Email: erinhunt@buffalo.edu