National Expense Report Day 2026

APPG | WORKPLACE CULTURE

National Expense Report Day 2026.

Because behind every approved expense report is an AP professional who deserves a little recognition.

By Accounts Payable Professionals Group
October 15, 2026

Happy National Expense Report Day!

Today, we celebrate one of the most familiar traditions in business: employees spending company money and Accounts Payable trying to figure out exactly what happened.

If you've ever reviewed an expense report, you know the routine.

A $47 lunch receipt with no explanation. A hotel bill with mysterious extra charges. A taxi ride that somehow costs more than the flight.

And, of course, everyone's favorite: "I lost the receipt."

The Unsung Heroes of Expense Reports

Behind every successful reimbursement is someone making sure the numbers add up, the receipts match, and company policies are followed.

That someone is often an AP professional.

While employees eagerly await their reimbursements, AP teams are busy checking expense categories, verifying approvals, identifying duplicate charges, and occasionally playing detective.

It's not glamorous work, but somebody has to do it!

Five Things Every AP Professional Has Heard

1. "Can you reimburse this today?"
2. "My manager already approved it."
3. "I thought the company paid for that."
4. "The receipt was in my other suitcase."
5. "Why was my expense report rejected?"

Sound familiar?

A Little Appreciation Goes a Long Way

Expense reporting may not be everyone's favorite activity, but accurate reports protect company funds, support financial controls, and help employees get reimbursed on time.

So today, raise your coffee mug to the AP specialists, expense auditors, and finance teams who keep everything running smoothly.

Happy National Expense Report Day! May your receipts be legible, your approvals be timely, and your expense reports always balance.

And remember: A missing receipt is not a personality trait.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What's the funniest excuse you've ever heard for a missing expense receipt?

Share your experience with fellow AP professionals in the APPG LinkedIn community.

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Editorial Note: This article was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited, reviewed, and approved by Robert Ruhno, Executive Director of the Accounts Payable Professionals Group (APPG).

APPG Leadership

Robert Ruhno

Executive Director

Robert leads APPG’s mission, editorial direction, member community, and efforts to advance the Accounts Payable profession.

Mariann Ruhno

Chief Education Officer

Mariann leads APPG’s education strategy, professional-development resources, and initiatives designed to help AP professionals strengthen their skills and careers.

Practical education, reporting, and community resources for Accounts Payable professionals.

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National Expense Report Day

October 15 (United States) • Where Fun and Finance throw a party for receipts

You ever notice how there’s a holiday for everything now (National Doughnut Day, Take Your Cat to Work Day)? Well, pull up a chair. October 15 is National Expense Report Day (a tribute to crumpled receipts, fuzzy photos, and those spreadsheets where one wrong formula can ruin your day).

A Brief (and Slightly Painful) History

Believe it or not, the oldest written record known to humankind is basically a receipt. Picture it: Mesopotamia, around 3000 BC. A clay tablet, a stylus, and an auditor saying, “No, you cannot expense that goat. It is a personal goat.”

Fast forward a few millennia through ledgers, ink, and piles of paper receipts. Then came spreadsheets (exciting at first, until the formulas turned on us). Eventually cloud tools arrived, followed by AI, and today most of the busywork can be handled with smart capture, auto-matching, and rule-based approvals that let you focus on what matters.

Expense Reports Have Come a Long Way

From colorful receipts to mileage stories that could fill a travel journal, we’ve all seen some unforgettable expense reports. Over time, the process has become faster, easier, and more accurate because of better systems, clearer rules, and teamwork. Expense reports might not be exciting, but they play an important role in keeping every business organized and on track.

Two questions to end with

• What’s the funniest or most unexpected expense you’ve seen on a report? Maybe a “research lunch” at Disneyland or a receipt for a single paperclip. Add your story in the comments.
• If your most ridiculous receipt could talk, what would it say? Keep it light and creative. It’s a fun way to share lessons learned.

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Robert Ruhno Executive Director APPG

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The Strangest Things People Have Submitted on Expense Reports

The Strangest Things People Have Submitted on Expense Reports

Even seasoned AP professionals can’t help but shake their heads when strange items show up on expense reports. Below are a few stories—including real examples—from both our own desks and broader industry reports.

Head-Scratching Reimbursements We’ve Seen

1. Ripped Pants Emergency 
   An employee submitted a $200 reimbursement for pants ripped while getting out of a NYC taxi—right before a big client meeting. That’s one pricey wardrobe malfunction!

2. Two Seats, One Traveler
   Another employee booked two airline seats for the same flight—because they needed the extra space. In an awkward conversation, the airline confirmed it was required for comfort, and the extra ticket was indeed billed.

Top 10 Most Unusual Expenses (via AccountingToday)

Based on Oversight Systems data, here are some of the most outrageous expense claims reported:

• A sports bra and yoga class submitted as a “client gift”
• $99,000 worth of discounted Lenovo laptops — purchased to resell for profit
• Eyelash extensions billed as a business necessity
• Personal catering, car rentals, and bulk office supplies — all under one employee
• A “survivalist” stocking up on doomsday prep books

Even More Wild Submissions from CFOs:

According to a survey of finance leaders, other shocking expense claims included:

• Flat-screen TVs, rental homes, luxury vacations, and cosmetic surgery
• Doggie day spas, toilet paper, and even dance classes
• And perhaps the boldest: a welder... and someone else’s salary

What Have You Seen? AP pros, your stories are the best:

• What’s the most outrageous thing you've processed?
• Did you ever approve something that made you question your sanity?
• Or did a bizarre claim slip through the cracks before you caught it?

Share your stories in the comments—anonymously preferably—and let’s have a good laugh (or cringe) together.

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Robert Ruhno Director Accounts Payable Professionals Group

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What is the strangest thing you've seen on an expense report?

I've worked in A/P for a long time and have seen some weird things, especially in employee expense reports! Two such weird expenses come to mind:

* On an expense report, an employee tried to get reimbursed for a pair of $200 pants purchased at Macy's in NYC. In the description, they wrote that they ripped their pants while getting out of a taxi, right before a client meeting.

* I was reviewing an expense report when I noticed two airline seats for the one employee. When I investigated to find out why, it turned out that the employee did not fit in one seat, and the airline charged for the addition seat! Awkward.

Well according to Robert Half Management Resource these are the 20 unusual expense report items highlighted in their survey of 2,200 CFO's:

1. Ski trips

2. Lottery tickets

3. Rental homes

4. Spa day

5. Cruise

6. Cosmetic surgery

7. Scuba diving

8. Half a cow

9. Flowers for spouse

10. A dog

11. Taxidermy services

12. 10-cent parking meter charge

13. Toilet paper

14. Bubble bath

15. Somebody else's salary

16. Flat-screen TV

17. Haircut

18. Home remodel

19. Driving lessons

20. Car payment

What is the strangest thing you or your coworkers have seen on an expense report? Working in A/P we see mountains of expenses, so there must be some really odd and funny stories out there!

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Robert Ruhno

Director of Social Media

Accounts Payable Professionals Group (APPG)

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