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.
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Omair Taher is a senior associate in Grant Thornton LLP’s Washington National Tax Office. He monitors legislative and regulatory tax developments and provides Grant Thornton’s clients with critical information related to those developments through alerts, thought leadership, webcasts, and presentations.
Dustin Stamper is the Tax Legislative Affairs practice leader and a managing director in Grant Thornton LLP’s Washington National Tax Office. He monitors tax legislative and regulatory developments, and identifies planning opportunities and challenges for Grant Thornton’s clients.
Adi Rubin is a manager in managed accounting services in the Nonprofit and Social Sector Group of Raffa – Marcum. Reach her at adi.rubin@marcumllp.com.
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:
