This is our statement:

In lieu of cash received through Payroll, and employee may wish to give gift certificates to other employees. In this situation the employee who purchased the gift certificates and is requesting reimbursement will be responsible for the taxes associated with the reimbursement since the IRS considers gift certificates cash equivalent income.

I really don't even understand how it is logical. Also, I think the statement could use some hyphens and commas.

My university has a policy that the person who PURCHASES gift cards for employees will be taxed on them if they are reimbursed. Does that seem weird?

Um, that's ridiculous. That's like getting taxed on my reimbursed travel expenses.

If it were the recipient getting taxed, that would be in line with my experience.

But in fact I have seen certain travel expenses taxed, particularly lunches. The theory, as I understand it, is that it is an expense you would have incurred anyway in the course of a normal business day. Unlike dinner or breakfast, where it's assumed you would otherwise have eaten at home from already purchased groceries, or your personal farm, or something. (A lunch meeting is a different case again.)

At my current firm, we can't get lunch reibursed when travelling in the first place, neatly avoiding the taxation issue.

A lunch meeting is a different case again.

Weirdly, I found this tidbit because I was reading our policy because our accountant told me it was "university policy" that we could not buy food or coffee for "standing monthly or weekly meetings" only "retreats and on-time meetings". I still can't find that policy.

No way! If I could get away with never wearing a bra again, I totally would.

I dislike restrictive clothing, and yet I want to try a corset. Go figure me out.

If I could get away with never wearing a bra again, I totally would.

Only public decency laws and the need to keep flesh from touching flesh during high temperature events keeps me clothed.

Sophia - does the differentiation between other meetings and "on-time" meetings mean that people can be late for the other meetings?

To be reimbursed for travel meals you have to be at least 50 miles away from your office. Business meals are reimbursed, but require a bunch of justification. Non of our expense reimbursements are taxed.

The receiving employee is taxed for any spot bonus's processed through payroll and any gift certificates received. I don't get the logic of taxing the purchasing employee. It sounds like there isn't a mechanism to recognize that the purchase is not personal.

******

I tried on a corset at Folsom Street Fair and it was SO comfortable. I wish I could have afforded to purchase it.

Oh goodness! That was a typo- it was "one-time meetings"!

I never really have had much problems wearing a bra, except this rash, while mostly gone, has left me able to feel EVERY SINGLE THING that touches my skin. It isn't really itchy, just prickly and uncomfortable and makes me want to be naked. I can't even sleep with a fleece blanket on me, it is too scratchy. I can stand the sateen weave sheets, however. But I feel like the Princess and the Pea.

I don't get the logic of taxing the purchasing employee. It sounds like there isn't a mechanism to recognize that the purchase is not personal.

I think this is it, because later on the same document seems to say that if you want to buy the employee a gift, either you are taxed, or you process an extra compensation payment for the employee in the amount of the gift and have them pay you back. It isn't really clear and asks me to see a policy that I can't find.

All white people want corsets.

Corsets made of muffins?

Tom, you could do a prepared slideshow or you could take candids throughout the party and pull your slideshow from that. Or make a website later. ETA: Seriously, hiding behind a camera is a great place for an introvert at a party.