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Question

A bookkeeping client of mine is paying his two employees' expenses by issuing to them a separate "per diem" check. He will claim it as an expense. Is there anything about this that could cause him problems at tax time?

Submitted: 430 days and 20 hours ago.
Category: Finance
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Hendersonville, Tennessee

Already Tried:
So far I have been preparing the payroll and additional per diem checks for the employees.

Posted by Ed Johnson 430 days and 20 hours ago.

Info Request

Dear XXXXXXXX,

 

Are the employees required to keep receipts and turn them in?

 

 

430 days and 20 hours ago.

Reply

I don't know if they are required to turn in receipts, but I doubt it. Will he need the receipts if he is going to claim the expense?

430 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

... and can he legally claim the "blanket" per diem payments as an expense - if his employees give him the receipts?

Accepted Answer

Dear emmy,

 

He needs to keep recods to show the time, place, and business purpose of his employees' travel.

 

I asked about the receipts, because that is one of the factors affecting how the perdeim should be reported on the W-2.

 

If per diem is paid and expense reports are not required he is operating a non-accountable plan, which means the per diem IS considered taxable income to the employee. It has to be reported accordingly.

If he is reimbursing employees based on expense reports, then the reimbursement is for expenses incurred and is NOT taxable.

You include the per diem in Box 1 of the W-2, but NOT box 3 and 5.

 

he can still expense the blanket.

 

the only problem he has is determining if he exceeds the standard M&IE pedeim allowed by the IRS and that he is appropriately reporting it on the W-2.

 

 

 

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Expert: Ed Johnson
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/18/2008

HR & Business Operati&ons C&onsultant

Central Michigan University, MSA Candidate; Global Compensation Operations Mngr; AA Degree Lib Arts

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