Employees working from home during the coronavirus pandemic claimed some outlandish expenses this year, including pricey exercise bikes, facelifts and private jets.
Emburse, an expense management software company, released a compilation Wednesday of some of the craziest expenses it has seen claimed this year, some of which were actually approved. That included $1,895, which was approved as a contribution for an employee's Peloton Bike under the explanation of “for health and wellness.” On the other hand, a $7,600 expense claim for a facelift was submitted under the category of “repairs and maintenance” but was rejected, despite the pressing need to look one’s best during a Zoom meeting.
Eddie Price is a director with KBKG and oversees the Southern region and its Texas-based operations. He is a Certified Cost Segregation Professional (CCSP) with the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (www.ASCSP.org). With over 30 years of cost segregation experience dating back to the Investment Tax Credit period, Eddie is one of the most experienced experts in the industry. Eddie currently serves on the Testing Committee of the ASCSP and is a former Chair of the Education Committee.
Timothy Stanton is a shareholder at Ogletree Deakins. Inside counsel and HR and benefits leaders alike turn to Tim Stanton for advice and representation on their health and welfare and other employee benefit challenges.
Kristine Bingman is of counsel at Ogletree Deakins. She works with clients on a variety of issues related to health and welfare and retirement plans.
Some expenses weren’t for working from home, but more about getting out of the house safely. An expense claim for a private jet charter costing over $20,000 was submitted and approved under the explanation of “required to limit COVID exposure for international shoots.” Another travel-related expense claim was $2,500 for a helicopter ride, which was not approved.
The $79 expense claim for a dog crate could perhaps be used for travel at some point when that's safer, but in these times it was more plausibly to provide "crate training [for] a new COVID puppy to not run into Zoom meetings."
Below is an infographic produced by Emburse showing this and several other head-scratching claims:
