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.
Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is managing director of CEO Unlimited LLC. She delivers communication strategies, peak performance messages, and women's wealth and leadership insights to audiences all over the world at conferences, corporations and colleges. With over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and leaders, her strategy consulting and communications firm has helped professionals enhance their speaking skills so they can increase their impact in the workplace. She is founder of Wealthy Women Daily, editor-in-chief of The Dividend InvestHER newsletter, and author of "Dividends Are a Queen's Best Friend." She also serves as chair of the Illinois CPA Society Individual Tax Committee. She is a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy and recipient of the Illinois CPA Society Women to Watch Award and Young Professional Leadership Award.
The Internal Revenue Service is temporarily allowing the use of digital e-signatures on some forms that can’t be filed electronically.
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:
