Expense Category
Human Resources

What expense category is a gift card to employees?

The answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances of the gift card and how it is used by the employees. Generally speaking, a gift card to employees could be classified as a business expense, a marketing expense, or a payroll expense.

Business Expense

If the gift card is given to employees as a business expense, then it would fall under the category of business expenses. This would typically be the case if the gift card is given to employees as a thank you for their work or as a reward for meeting certain objectives. The business expense would be the cost of the gift card itself.

Marketing Expense

If the gift card is given to employees as a marketing expense, then it would fall under the category of marketing expenses. This would typically be the case if the gift card is given to employees in order to promote the company or its products/services. The marketing expense would be the cost of the gift card itself.

Payroll Expense

If the gift card is given to employees as a payroll expense, then it would fall under the category of payroll expenses. This would typically be the case if the gift card is given to employees as part of their compensation package. The payroll expense would be the cost of the gift card itself.

The information provided in this article does not constitute legal or financial advice and is for general informational purposes only. Please check with an attorney or financial advisor to obtain advice with respect to the content of this article.
“Accurate classification of expenses is vital for businesses as it forms the backbone of financial reporting, tax compliance, and strategic decision-making. It enables businesses to track and analyze their spending patterns, identify cost-saving opportunities, and assess the profitability of various operations or projects. Having a single source to turn to for accounting classification suggestions, such as the Ramp Expense Classifier tool, is immensely helpful as it provides consistency, reduces ambiguity, and streamlines the expense classification process.”
Audrey Carroll
Senior Manager, Accounting, Ramp

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