Business Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 70: Purchasing
Gift Cards and Cash Equivalents Purchase and Use
BPPM 70.44
For more information contact:
Purchasing Services
509-335-3541
Accounts Payable
509-335-2060
Overview
The Internal Revenue Service considers gift cards, gift certificates, and stored value cards to be cash equivalents. When given to individuals, cash equivalents create the same tax implications as a distribution of cash. The University, the state, and the IRS have complex rules governing the handling and reporting of cash equivalent transactions.
The University has designed standard disbursement systems to comply with these rules, but the purchase of gift cards results in the distribution of cash equivalents to individuals outside normal controls and processes. Therefore, when a department opts for the use of gift cards, the department must assume some of the accounting and reporting responsibilities normally handled centrally.
Use of these procedures promotes compliance with state and federal regulations and promotes accurate reporting to the federal government.
Definitions
Award
For the purposes of this policy, an award is a cash equivalent given, usually to an employee or student, in recognition of past accomplishments. The recipient has made no formal entry or submission and the recipient did not undertake the recognized activity primarily for the financial benefit of the award (see Prize below).
Departments are to charge employee awards to spend category code SC0089 (Recognition Awards). Departments are to charge student awards to SC00297 (Awards).
Business Gift
For the purposes of this policy, a business gift is a cash equivalent given to an individual to express gratitude or appreciation for support of the University’s mission. The recipient performed no service nor provided other consideration in exchange for the gift.
Departments are to charge business gifts to spend category code SC0089 (Recognition Awards).
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are stored-value products such as gift certificates and gift cards. The IRS specifically defines these instruments as cash equivalents and states that their value is considered taxable income to the recipient, regardless of dollar value.
Gift Card or Gift Certificate
A gift card or gift certificate entitles the recipient to receive goods or services of a specified value from the issuer.
Prize
For the purposes of this policy, a prize is a cash equivalent presented as a result of participation in a contest, drawing, or judged competition (see Award above).
Departments are to charge all prizes to spend category code SC00150 (Prizes).
Research Participant Payment
For the purposes of this policy, a research participant payment is a cash equivalent offered to an individual (including a study subject) as incentive to participate in a research study.
Departments are to charge research participant payments to spend category code SC0124 (Research Subjects).
Substitute W-9
A Substitute W-9 is a form the IRS allows as a substitute for IRS Form W-9. WSU uses the Record of Distribution and Request for Taxpayer Number and Certification (Substitute W-9). (See BPPM 45.53).
Allowable Uses
University personnel are to use cash equivalents in only the circumstances outlined in Table 1.
Allowable Uses of Cash Equivalents
Allowable uses of cash equivalents and appropriate funding sources are presented in the Table 1. No other use of gift cards or other cash equivalents is authorized without the Area Finance Officer’s specific, written approval in advance of the purchase of the cards.
| Use / Spend Category | Appropriated Funds:
FD001, FD025, FD035, FD036, FD037, FD038, FD039, FD040, FD041, FD042, FD068, FD069, FD070, FD071, FD072, FD073, FD076, FD078, FD085, FD087, FD122 |
Donated Funds:
FD049, FD050, FD051, FD089, FD095 |
Sponsored Programs (when paired with FN017): FD035, FD036, FD037, FD038, FD039, FD040, FD041, FD042, FD043, FD044, FD045, FD046, FD047, FD048, FD085 |
Self-Supporting Programs:
FD026, FD050, FD053, FD054, FD080, FD088, FD098 |
Auxiliary Funds:
FD033, FD053, FD055, FD056, FD057, FD058, FD060, FD061, FD062, FD063, FD077, FD105, FD106, FD107, FD108, FD109, FD110, FD111, FD112, FD115, FD116 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Research participant incentive payments SC00124 (Example: Payment to an individual to encourage their participation in a research study.) (See BPPM 45.53 and 40.21.) |
No, except in conjunction with functions FN013, FN014, FN015 research centers, institutes, and individual research. See also Incentive for participation in a WSU sponsored activity. |
Yes, but only where such use is in accordance with the organizational mission, gift use agreement, and donor intent. |
Yes, but only where human subjects are an integral part of the research, have been approved by the IRB, and incentive payments are included on the awarded and approved budget. Note: This spend category may be included in the F&A base. |
No, except fund FD026 in conjunction with functions FN013, FN014, FN015 institutional research. |
No |
|
Awards in recognition of employee accomplishment or contribution SC0089 (Recognition Awards) |
Yes, but only in strict accordance with BPPM 55.56. |
Yes, but only where such use is in accordance with the organizational mission, gift use agreement, and donor intent. |
No |
Yes, but only where awards or prizes are an integral part of the program mission and included in the approved program budget. |
Yes, but only where awards or prizes are an integral part of the program mission. |
|
Incentive for participation in a WSU sponsored activity or Payments to students for participation in student surveys SC00124 |
No |
Yes, but only where such use is in accordance with the organizational mission, gift use agreement, and donor intent. |
No |
Yes, but only where incentives are an integral part of the program mission and included in the approved program budget. |
Yes, but only where incentives are vital to achieve the program mission. |
|
Participant support costs SC00125 (Example: direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects.) See 2 CFR 200.75 |
No |
Yes, but only where such use is in accordance with the organizational mission, gift use agreement, and donor intent. |
Yes, if approved in advance by the awarding agency and the expense is otherwise allowable, allocable, and reasonable. Note: This spend category should be excluded from the F&A base. |
Yes, but only where participation is an integral part of the program mission and included in the approved program budget, if the expense is otherwise allowable, allocable, and reasonable. |
No |
|
Awards in recognition of student accomplishment or contribution SC00297 (Awards) or Contest prizes SC00150 (Prizes) |
No |
Yes, but only where such use is in accordance with the organizational mission, gift use agreement, and donor intent. |
No |
Yes, but only where awards or prizes are an integral part of the program mission and included in the approved program budget. |
Yes, but only where awards or prizes are an integral part of the program mission. |
Purchasing
Departments may use a procurement card (see BPPM 70.08) or a research cash advance (see BPPM 40.21) to purchase gift cards.
Gift Card/Prize Limits
Departments may purchase gift cards or prizes with values up to $200. At a single event, departments may not distribute a total of $200 or more in gift cards or prizes to any individual.
Recognition Award Limit
Gift cards or prizes purchased for employee recognition awards must be in accordance with BPPM 55.56.
Verification
Verify each procurement card transaction in Workday. Scan the itemized receipt showing the amount of each card, the number purchased, and any activation fees and upload it to the transaction in Workday. See the Workday Verify Procurement Card Transaction reference guide.
Cash Advance
Promptly verify a cash advance after a purchase.
Distribution
Distribute the gift cards ensuring that appropriate information is collected from each recipient and entered on a Distribution Log for Payments of Cash, Gift Cards and Other Cash Equivalents, and Tangible Property. (See to BPPM 45.53.)
Appropriately safeguard personal information. Periodically reconcile the card inventory to the Distribution Log for Payments of Cash, Gift Cards and Other Cash Equivalents, and Tangible Personal Property.
Distribute cards within 60 days of purchase.
Return unused cards for credit when possible.
Fiscal Year End
Annually, on June 30, the department is to report to General Accounting any inventory of gift cards more than sixty days old.
For gift cards purchased with funding other than grants, the department submits a journal entry to record the value of cards on hand as a prepaid expense. Contact General Accounting if assistance is required to create the journal entry.
Grant/Contract End
At the end of a grant or contract period, the department creates an Accounting Adjustment—Cost Transfer in Workday to move the value of any unused gift cards purchased with grant or contract monies (funds FD043, FD044, FD045, FD046, FD085, FD047, FD048 to an unrestricted funding source. (See BPPM 30.25 and the Workday Accounting Adjustment—Cost Transfer reference guide.)
Security and Inventory
Do not leave gift cards unattended and unsecured. Store gift cards in a secure and locked location. Control and limit access to the storage location.
Periodically reconcile the gift card inventory to the Distribution Log for Payments of Cash, Gift Cards and Other Cash Equivalents, and Tangible Property. (See BPPM 45.53.)
Audit
The Distribution Log for Payments of Cash, Gift Cards and Other Cash Equivalents, and Tangible Personal Property must support the outstanding card inventory. The Controller’s Office and other internal or external auditing authorities may audit gift card inventories and distribution logs at any time without notice.
Confidentiality
The department is to develop a system for assigning unique recipient identifiers when the identities of research participants must be kept confidential. Enter the unique identifier on the log and Record of Distribution and Request for Taxpayer Number and Certification (Substitute W-9) if required. (See Table 2.) The department securely maintains a crosswalk between the unique identifier and the taxpayer information in accordance with HIPAA human research requirements.
Tax Reporting
Because the IRS regards gift cards as cash equivalents, gift card distribution may create tax and reporting implications for both the recipient and the University. When such distribution occurs, it is important for the protection of the recipient, department personnel, and WSU that the appropriate processes are followed and WSU offices responsible for reporting are notified.
Important! In all cases, the department must maintain a Distribution Log for Payments of Cash, Gift Cards and Other Cash Equivalents, and Tangible Personal Property. (See BPPM 45.53.) The department must retain such payment documentation in accordance with the University records retention schedules (see BPPM 90.01).
If gifts to one individual equal or exceed $600 in a calendar year, the department submits a Record of Distribution and Request for Taxpayer Number and Certification (Substitute W-9) to Accounts Payable as soon as possible, but no later than January 5th of the following year in order to ensure inclusion in 1099 reporting. (See also BPPM 45.53.) The tables below outline some of the most common situations and the appropriate handling. Contact Accounts Payable with questions.
For single amounts over $50, the department must collect the recipient’s name, social security number, street address, and the date of payment.
Any amount paid to an employee is to be reported to Payroll Services on a Substitute W-9. Exception: Departments are not required to report to Payroll regarding research participant incentive payments to employees. Departments handle such payments in the same manner as any other research participant payment, following 1099 reporting rules.
Safeguarding Information
Departments are to collect and maintain taxpayer information with a high level of security. Departments are to make such information available only to WSU employees who require it for IRS reporting purposes. Refer to BPPM 90.78 for policy regarding the use of social security numbers on forms. When it is necessary to collect taxpayer information, the information is to be collected prior to distribution of the gift card.
See Confidentiality for procedures for protecting identities of research participants.
|
Face Value |
Employees, including student-employees (except for employees paid study subject incentives) |
Non-resident Alien, including students |
All Others, including students and employees paid study subject incentives |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Single payment of $50.00 or less and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year |
Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Not reportable. |
|
Single payment of $50.01 – $250.00 and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year |
Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Department must collect reporting information (see Tax Reporting) to be kept on file in the department. |
|
Single payment in an amount between $250.01 and $599.99 and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year |
Secure Area Finance Officer’s approval prior to purchasing the card. Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Secure Area Finance Officer’s approval prior to purchasing the card. Recipient must complete the Substitute W-9 form to be kept on file in the department. |
|
$600 or more to a single individual in a calendar year (Regardless of the amount of individual payments, reporting is required for any individual who indicates on the Substitute W-9 form that $600 or more has been received in cash and property combined from all WSU sources in a calendar year.) |
Gift card may not be used. Contact Accounts Payable for instructions. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Recipient must complete the Substitute W-9 form to be submitted to Accounts Payable at 240 French Administration Building, Mail Code 1025. |
|
IRS Reporting |
W-2 (Payroll) All amounts. |
1042-S (Payroll) All amounts. |
1099-Misc (Accounts Payable) for total of $600 or more paid to an individual in a calendar year. |
|
Tax Consequences |
Normally taxable and subject to withholding tax withheld on next payroll cycle. |
May be taxable. Tax will be withheld at time of payment. |
Normally taxable |
|
Face Value |
Employee (including student-employee) |
Students |
Non-Resident Alien, including students |
All Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single payment of $50.00 or less and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year |
Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
Not 1099 reportable. Awards may represent income for students and may impact the financial aid package. Access the Office of Scholarship Services website for more information. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Not reportable. |
|
Single payment of $50.01 – $250.00 and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year. |
Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
To be used for educational expenses- Not 1099 reportable. Awards may represent income for students and may impact the financial aid package. Access the Office of Scholarship Services website for more information. Otherwise– Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 to be kept on file in the department. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay by check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 to be kept on file in the department. |
|
Single payment in an amount between $250.01 and $599.99 and Expected payments totaling less than $600 in a calendar year |
Secure Area Finance Officer’s approval prior to purchasing the card. Complete Substitute W-9 form and submit to Payroll Services at 236 French Administration Bldg., mail code 1024. |
To be used for educational expenses- Not 1099 reportable. Awards may represent income for students and may impact the financial aid package. Access the Office of Scholarship Services website for more information. Otherwise– Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 to be kept on file in the department. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay with check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Secure Area Finance Officer’s approval prior to purchasing the card. Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 to be kept on file in the department. |
|
$600 or more to a single individual in a calendar year, or more than three payments. (Regardless of the amount of individual payments, reporting is required for any individual who indicates on the Substitute W-9 form that $600 or more has been received in cash and property combined from all WSU sources in a calendar year.) |
Gift card may not be used. Contact Payroll for instructions. |
To be used for educational expenses- Not 1099 reportable. Awards may represent income for students and may impact the financial aid package. See the Office of Scholarship Services website at http://saras.wsu.edu for more information. Otherwise– Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 to be submitted to Accounts Payable at 240 French Administration Bldg. |
Gift card may not be used. Pay by check. Contact Accounts Payable. |
Recipient must complete WSU Substitute W-9 form to be submitted to Accounts Payable at 240 French Administration Bldg. |
|
IRS Reporting |
W-2 (Payroll) All amounts. |
1099-Misc (Accounts Payable) for amounts over $600 in a calendar year. |
1042-S (Payroll) All amounts. |
1099-Misc (Accounts Payable) for amounts of $600 or more in a calendar year. |
|
Tax Consequences |
Taxable- tax withheld on next payroll cycle. Some exceptions for length of service or safety awards to be determined by Payroll. |
May be taxable |
May be taxable, to be determined by Payroll. Tax withheld at time of payment. |
Taxable |
_______________________
Revisions: Sept. 2021 (Rev. 577); Jan. 2021 (Rev. 560); Nov. 2020 (Rev. 558); July 2018 (Rev. 517); Nov. 2015 – new policy (Rev. 461).