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 service reminded taxpayers they will need to resume paying their taxes on July 15, but the AICPA is asking for further relief, as an inspector general report sheds light on the unprecedented filing season.
The Institute of Internal Auditors and the International Federation of Accountants are calling on audit committees to be vigilant about risk management, performance, controls and processes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nancy Ekrem has been a principal of the firm DME CPA Group PC since 1991 where she currently serves as Managing Director. DME is located just north of Seattle and services business and individuals throughout the region. Her main focus is serving clients in the areas of Estate Planning, Income Tax Planning, Business Planning, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Innovation and growth are everywhere in business and life. Nancy loves digging into an opportunity and finding an innovative way to do things. Nancy attained her CPA certificate in 1982, and has spent most of her career in public accounting. She has been with the firm since 1985. Nancy is a graduate with a BS in Business Administration from Seattle University (1981) - (Go Redhawks), a member of the Washington State Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Currently a member of the Board of Directors of Camp Fire Snohomish Council, the Board of Directors of Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce where she serves as Chair, Economic Alliance Snohomish County where she serves as Treasurer, she has spent much of her time serving on various committees and boards throughout the region that emphasize business, arts, and youth. She lives in Seattle with her husband Vance. They are the parents of adult children and have twin grandsons. (Being a Grand is Grand!) They enjoy traveling, hanging out with friends, and hosting "family" dinners. One of Nancy's favorite activities is working with teenagers.
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:
