Reimbursement for Entertainment

HOW IT WORKS

1. Go to: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/services/requests/
2. Under Expense Requests, click on "Create" next to "Entertainment Payment Request".

3. Next, Click "Add Attachment" to upload scanned receipts and/or invoices.

4. Fill in Requester UT EID with your EID. Fill in Description with a brief description of what event took place (i.e. Weekly Research Group Meeting).

5. Enter the Goods/Services Date. "Begin Date" is when you received the materials are services and "End Date" will be when all materials and services have been completed.

6. How would you like to include the OOEF information? In drop down, select "Complete Online".
   1. Complete the: date of event, location (where you ate), purpose of the event, how this event will benefit UT.
   2. If there were 10 or less who participated, please provide first and last names, titles and affiliations.
7. Enter Account Number and Amount.

8. Select Individual or Vendor from drop down menu. If payment is to reimburse yourself or someone else, please select Individual and then provide their EID.
   1. If payment needs to be made to a vendor (i.e. Gatti’s, Austin’s pizza, O’s campus café, etc.) please select Vendor and vendor’s EID. If you cannot locate the vendor’s EID please email the Entertainment Coordinator the vendor and their address, and it can be looked up for you.
9. Click "Continue".
10. Next page, "Choose Assignee" use the drop box in “Assign to” and choose “Group”. Enter 00377 for the Mechanical Engineering Department. Click "Assign" 

CHECKLIST

Receipt/Invoices

• Keep itemized receipts
• Shows method of payment
• Tip does not exceed 20% of subtotal (before tax and delivery)
• Alcohol is not the primary expenditure

Meals

• Cannot exceed $30/person for breakfast, $40/person for Lunch, $100/person for dinner

HOW IT WORKS

The purpose of the OOEF is to substantiate the expenditures as a business event and prevent a personal tax liability for these events. The date, location, participants’ names, titles, affiliation with UT, purpose of the meeting, benefit to the University, and average cost per person must all be documented on the OOEF.

Pre‐Approval of Official Occasions Expense must be obtained from the Assistant Dean and/or Dean.

The paper OOEF for Business Affairs will be used in the following situations:

• Any proposed event with an estimated cost of $3,000 or above
• Average cost per person exceeds $100
• Alcohol is the primary expenditure
• The Dean of Engineering hosted the event

An OOEF should always be filled out when:

• Entertainment expenses are procured on the ProCard or UT Market
• For any event that involves food & beverage

Filling Out the OOEF:

• Date of Event: when the event occurred (not when the form is being completed)
• Location/Place:
  
  • If individual dined at the restaurant – add the name of restaurant
  • If individual dined at the restaurant outside Austin – add the name of restaurant, city, and state
  • On campus – add the name of the building and room number, ex: ECJ 5.408
• Participants/Attendees:
  • 10 or fewer – list each individual by first and last name, title, and affiliation. This includes the UT host. List current title and affiliation for prospective employees and students. Same information should be added in the notes of the document

• • More than 10 participants - do not state "more than 10" or "over 10" instead use the approximate number of attendees. For example: “Alumni of the Cockrell School were invited to an annual BBQ reception; approximately 350 are expected to attend"
• Purpose: provide a brief explanation of the purpose of the event. It is to avoid the question– what was this for?
  • Examples:
    • Lunch meeting to discuss current research project
    • Food provided for general meeting
    • Dinner for donor cultivation
    • Refreshments provided for joint research collaboration
• Benefit to UT: supply a brief explanation of how the event is expected to benefit the University or the benefits actually derived from the event.
  • Examples:
    • Enhance University operations.
    • Enhance the collaboration between departments.
    • Increase in engineering research funding.
    • To further the relationship between the faculty and staff members of Engineering.
• Average Cost Per Person (ACPP): the average per person entertainment limit is $100 and includes food, alcohol, tax, and gratuity. The ACPP is not required when there is a negotiated agreement with a vendor for a total package price that includes food and nonfood expenses (when food cost cannot be broken down). The agreement/contract must be included as part of the supporting documentation.
  • Examples:
    • $500 total bill and 12 attendees: $41.67/per person for dinner.
    • Event for two days: $800 and 15 attendees: $53.33 divided by two days =$26.67/per person.
• Justification for Exception: provide a justification if the average per person limit is exceeded or if alcohol is the primary expenditure. The justification should always be filled out and accompanied with the Dean’s signature.
• Estimated/Actual Costs: The individual signing the "prior to" OOEF's needs to know the estimated expenses for the event so that they can make an educated decision whether or not to approve the OOEF request.
• Signature: if an authorized signature is required in a departmental level, those can be scanned and kept for department’s reference. If situation requires the Dean’s Delegate or Dean’s approval, the paper OOEF should be attached with signature.

HOW IT WORKS

1. A submission for entertainment will be done via the request form link. Please view “How to Submit An Online Request For Entertainment”.
   Please make sure to submit the receipt within 30 days of the event or purchase date to avoid seeking different exceptions and a delay in reimbursement.
2. For personal reimbursement, keep the following checklist in mind:
   • Invoices
     • Keep Itemized Receipts
       • If one cannot be obtained, provide a an itemized description either signed memo or email
     • Shows method of payment (Mastercard, Visa, etc.)
       • If the receipt does not show this, provide a credit card statement displaying the expenditure
       • Other tenders, provide a signed memo (or email) indicating cash was used or a copy of a deposited check was the payment method
     • Tip does not exceed 20% of subtotal (before tax and delivery)
     • Alcohol is not the primary expenditure
     • If this is a foreign receipt, please provide a description of what was purchased (with a signature)
   • Meals
     • Cannot exceed
       • $30/person Breakfast
       • $40/person Lunch
       • $100/person Dinner
3. Provide the Official Occasion Expense Form (OOEF)
   • No matter what the reimbursement cost, an OOEF form and/or information is always required
   • Please review the OOEF drop-down for more information

HOW IT WORKS

1. A submission for entertainment will be done via the request form link Please view “How to Submit An Online Request For Entertainment”.
2. Invoice should be itemized – if the vendor cannot provide an itemized invoice, provide the banquet order or an email stating what is being purchased.
3. Remit address displayed – if the remit to address isn’t provided by the vendor or unsure, contact the vendor on where the payment should be sent. 

4. Official invoice – has an invoice number that the vendor uses to verify that the payment has been made. Statements are only used for Citibank credit card payments.
5. As a State agency, the University is exempt from paying sales tax to vendors within the State of Texas (including beverage tax). If sales tax is charged, contact the vendor to have sales tax removed from the invoice.
6. Gratuity can be reimbursed up to 20% of the bill subtotal (before sales tax and delivery). If the vendor automatically adds gratuity over the 20% threshold add this information in the comments of the document.
7. Alcohol in UT campus facilities – advance approval by an approved Cockrell School delegate is required to serve alcohol in campus facilities including leased spaces. Refer to the Provost's Office website for guidelines and instructions for submitting an exception request 
8. Meals Cannot exceed
   • $30/per person Breakfast
   • $40/per person for Lunch
   • $100/per person for Dinner

The limit for flower or other perishable items is $200, including delivery fees. These purchases are exempt from Texas Sales Tax, and transactions should be monitored to ensure that tax is not charged. Purchasers can find University tax-exempt information on the Texas Sales Tax Exempt Information page.

Flowers or other perishable items to or for employees and non-employees that are not associated with a university-funded event must be sent in the name of the sending department or office.

• Examples of other perishable items include cookies, fruit, chocolate, pre-cooked and uncooked meal, or basket of pre-packaged food items

Flowers or other perishable items may be purchased for funerals, memorial services, hospital stays, and extended illnesses or for congratulations or recognition. Flowers or other perishable items may be paid by reimbursement to the purchaser or by direct payment to the florist or vendor.