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.
Last month's COVID-19 relief bill has accountants recommending some deductions to clients, and wondering about the applicability of others.
Mark McElroy is EVP and head of TransUnion's insurance business, leveraging advanced analytics and modeling to help the industry underwrite more effectively, target qualified prospects, improve acquisition and retention efforts, and identify and prevent fraudulent activity. He also contributes to the expansion of the practice through tactical development and implementation of insurance solutions in regions across the globe. Prior to joining TransUnion in 2012, McElroy was CEO and president of Balboa Insurance Group, a Bank of America company. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The U.S. Small Business Administration plans to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program to small lenders on Friday and to all lenders next Tuesday.
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:
