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.
Bill Curtis, CPA, is partner-in-charge of the Birmingham office of Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs & Advisors and leads the firm’s efforts in Alabama. He joined Mauldin & Jenkins in 2004, after working for AmSouth Bank and Cade and Associates. He has over 15 years of auditing and consulting experience. As a partner in the firm’s Financial Institutions practice, Curtis specializes in opinion audits and tax services for private as well as SEC registered companies, internal control opinion audits, and internal audits, and benefit plan audits. In addition to serving his financial institution clients, Curtis is responsible for auditing numerous 401(k) and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). He serves on the firm’s Leadership and Career Development Committee and LEAP Conference Committee. Curtis is a CPA in the states of Alabama and Georgia. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Alabama Society of CPAs, the Georgia Society of CPAs, Birmingham Young CPAs, Alabama Banking School faculty, and he serves on the board of directors for Community Kitchens of Birmingham.
Vice-President of the United States and 2024 Democratic Presidential contender
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:
