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.
Shannon Retzke Smith (pictured), Michelle Graham and Marsha Dungog are partners who specialize in international taxes at the law firm Withers Worldwide.
The service is rolling out new systems and expanding forms that can be electronically filed by tax-exempt organizations.
Michael S. Edmiston is an attorney with Jonathan W. Evans & Associates and is the immediate past president of PIABA.
He is a former NASD Dispute Resolution senior staff attorney and business manager for a national dispute resolution firm. Since 2006, he has represented investors in claims against brokerage firms, RIAs and other financial services companies.
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:
