What are 25k miles worth to you?
May 4, 2012, 7:54 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
In addition to the reasons listed already, are you sure you want to blur the line between your points and the company's travel. You cannot unring the bell. Once the bean counters put "your points" and "company travel" together, might you run the risk of having an expectation that your points be used for company travel. Regardless of reimbursed or non-reimbursed, you might find yourself being expected to use the points in the future.
May 4, 2012, 10:54 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL Lost Luggage
Programs: Kettle with Kryptonium Medallion Tags
Posts: 10,308
May 4, 2012, 11:19 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 19
We don't know what kind of reporting or business relationship is involved here, but I can almost assure you, at the very least - this practice will be frowned upon, and more than likely it could be in violation with a contractual relationship you or you company have with an employer or other company, it could be against policy, it could be illegal.
The reasons are obvious - there are serious conflict of interest considerations. You are benifiting monetarily from travel (yes there is that component with any travel and frequent flyer points, but here we are talking hard cash which will far exceed the value of an FF credit points) - thus you are being encouraged and rewarded for spending your employees or customer money beyond stricly business need considerations, not only that, you are being encouraged and rewarded to pick the most expensive route and time to travel to get the greatest reimbursement. Can you see the control weakness here? That's why, for all but those very small or loosly controlled companies, this is forbidden.
The reasons are obvious - there are serious conflict of interest considerations. You are benifiting monetarily from travel (yes there is that component with any travel and frequent flyer points, but here we are talking hard cash which will far exceed the value of an FF credit points) - thus you are being encouraged and rewarded for spending your employees or customer money beyond stricly business need considerations, not only that, you are being encouraged and rewarded to pick the most expensive route and time to travel to get the greatest reimbursement. Can you see the control weakness here? That's why, for all but those very small or loosly controlled companies, this is forbidden.
May 4, 2012, 11:23 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 23
DO NOT do option 2 unless you want to pay taxes on that amount.
I don't do that for my own business
& my father doesn't do that for our family business. We both only use our miles for personal flying b.c of the tax issues that arise with reimbursing yourself for award tickets.
Check with your accountant, and depending where you are located, if you reimburse yourself for an award ticket you will be taxed on that $$ as normal taxable income.
I don't do that for my own business
& my father doesn't do that for our family business. We both only use our miles for personal flying b.c of the tax issues that arise with reimbursing yourself for award tickets.
Check with your accountant, and depending where you are located, if you reimburse yourself for an award ticket you will be taxed on that $$ as normal taxable income.
May 5, 2012, 7:19 am
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Is this "reimbursement" then treated as taxable income to you by your company? IANAL but I think it should be.
May 5, 2012, 7:23 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
This is an interesting conversation.
One other reason I was contemplating doing this was because I know with an award ticket, I could make changes in the future and not incur a cost, yet I need to book the ticket to be reimbursed by Monday. Maybe the best thing to do is ask those paying and see if its ok on their end.
One other reason I was contemplating doing this was because I know with an award ticket, I could make changes in the future and not incur a cost, yet I need to book the ticket to be reimbursed by Monday. Maybe the best thing to do is ask those paying and see if its ok on their end.
