Expense report
In accounting, expense report means an employee's itemized claim for business costs they paid out of pocket or on a company card, with receipts and a business purpose for each line. It becomes a liability to the employee once approved.
Not a rule. Bookkeeping convention — not codified. US GAAP governs recognition, measurement and presentation, not bookkeeping mechanics. Sources
The lessons that teach this
From the free founder back-office course, taught on one company's books, with exercises to work it yourself.
- APExpense policy: who spends, who approves, what proofA one-page expense policy, an approval matrix that routes by amount and refuses self-approval, and the receipt rule, on Northwind's first October requests.9 min
- APCompany cards and reimbursements: coding, receipts and the statementHow a company card statement and an out-of-pocket expense report are booked, with a receipt for each, and why paying the statement is not a second expense.11 min
- APAccountable plans: when a reimbursement is not wagesThe three tests of an accountable plan, the 30/60/120-day safe harbor, and an unreturned travel advance, on Northwind's trade show trip.10 min
What it is not called
Each of these means something else. Use one here and an accountant reading the product notices.
- bill (from a vendor)
- reimbursement (the payment it leads to)
Nearby in the catalog
No component names this concept outright. These sit in the same part of the system.
Also in Payables
Defined in Lexicon. This page is generated from that document, so the two can't disagree.