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.
Rachel Farris, CPA, is the founder of TaxStackAI.com, a company dedicated to helping small accounting firms modernize through AI-powered tools. She also leads her own accounting practice, where she focuses on strategic tax planning and advisory services. She is a recognized thought leader in the accounting profession, frequently presenting at national conferences, contributing to podcasts, and leading continuing education sessions for accounting professionals. She has been recognized as one of America's Top 200 CPAs and named among the 40 Under 40 Top Accounting and Tax Professionals. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in accounting and driving innovation to modernize the profession.
Alex Mechling, JD, serves as Director of Go-To-Market Strategy and Carrier Management at Paychex Insurance Agency. A benefits consulting leader with over 12 years in the field, he holds deep expertise in employee benefits, strategic planning, and digital health solutions. His professional background spans startups, private firms, and publicly traded companies, where he is recognized for driving growth through cross-functional alignment and talent development.
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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:
