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.
The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers Thursday that they only have until Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to register for an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 or more.
Shannon Schuyler is PwC’s U.S. chief purpose & inclusion officer, a role that brings together unique insights and perspectives from her prior roles as chief purpose officer and responsible business leader to the chief diversity officer role. With the responsibility for activating PwC's purpose — to build trust in society and solve important problems — and furthering diversity, inclusion and equity across the firm’s workforce, she helps create an environment that celebrates identity and intersectionality as a way to drive innovation and business value. Outside PwC’s walls, she focuses on the role PwC plays in communities and to provide opportunities for partners and staff to use their skills to respond to systemic challenges that have created disparities across society.
The guidance clears up the tax treatment of expenses when a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program hasn’t been forgiven by the end of the year.
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:
