Professional Expense Reimbursement
The Professional Expense Reimbursement (PER) program is designed to enable Academic staff to access, in a tax efficient manner, funding for expenditures that support them in successfully performing their professional duties.
Each academic year (July 1 – June 30), eligible academic staff are given a PER allocation that provides funding for expenditures that relate to their teaching, research, professional and/or general university duties.
For more information and a list of eligible and ineligible expenses for the PER Program,Ěýrefer to theĚýProfessional Expense Reimbursement HandbookĚý
For Qatar Academics that do not have Canadian bank accounts, please refer to this process to request expense reimbursement.
PER Allocation Schedule
Purchases made after July 1 can be submitted for reimbursement even if new PER allocations have not been added to your account.ĚýPER allocations are made sometime after an employee has started, so new employees may not see their balance immediately. Refer to the chart below for allocation dates by academic staff type.
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Academic Year
Allocations loaded mid July
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Each Semester
Four to six weeks after start date of appointment.
Eligible Amounts
Academic staff members – Initial Term, Contingent Term and Limited Term (full-time)
A maximum of $1,750 for each academic year (July 1 – June 30)
Term Certain –ĚýSessional
$175 per half course equivalent of duties, to a maximum of $1,750 for each academic year (July 1 – June 30)
Your PER Account
- To access your PER account,Ěýlog on to theĚý.ĚýNavigate toĚýMy work>ĚýFinance & Supply Chain > PER Statement
- To submit a PER expense claim,Ěýlog on to theĚý.ĚýNavigate toĚýMy work>ĚýFinance & Supply Chain > Manage Expenses
- To see your PER balance, log onĚýo theĚý.ĚýNavigate toĚýFinance and Supply Chain Management > Employee Self Service > Professional Expenses > PER Statement
Frequently Asked Questions
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Academic Staff Members – Initial Term, Contingent Term and Limited Term (full-time)
Claims may be submitted at any time during the academic year but staff are encouraged to submit claims as the expenses are incurred. This will ensure claims are received and eligible for reimbursement during the allowable claiming period. All claims for expenditures made within the current Academic year must be submitted and received in Human Resources no later than Aug.Ěý31 (two months following the end of the academic year).
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Academic Sessional Instructors
Claims can be submitted at any time during the contract period, but all claims must be submitted no later than three months after their contract end-date.
In order to load PER allocations a project must be set up for each eligible staff member. Once Research Accounting as set up the projects, HR then loads the employee's allocations to each project. If the project has not been set up the client will get this message.ĚýIf this is the case, emailĚýhracadem@ucalgary.caĚýfor an update on project set-up.
No, you can carry forward unspent PER balances from one academic year to the next, but cannot use PER funds to reimburse an expense that occurred in a previous year. Eligible expenditures must be made and reimbursed in the same academic year.
Yes, provided you have a current Canadian bank account and an email address on file at the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ.Ěý Exception: qualifying Academics in Qatar (see top of page for more details).
Yes, you can grant access to someone else to view and submit PER expenses on your behalf in the Finance PeopleSoft System. TheĚýPER HandbookĚýprovides the steps on how to grant access to someone else.
In general once the claim has been approved clients should receive payment within three to five business days.
All expenses, documentation requirements, especially for travel, must comply with the Travel and Expense Handbook Guidelines. Please see “What are examples of eligible expenses?” and refer to the Professional Expense Reimbursement (PER) Handbook
• Books, textbooks and manuscripts
• Subscriptions
• Office equipment to assist with professional duties
• Computers and instruments (examples: iPad, laptops, tablets, Apple Watch, Kindle etc.)
• Internet and phone charges (receipts must be in Academic Staff Member’s name and must show a payment)
• Materials or supplies relating to professional duties, including software. Please note however, that software purchases on managed devices must follow IT protocol.
• Mandatory fees related to professional duties (e.g. police checks)
• Fees for professional training courses
• Travel or local expenses related to meetings or research activities not covered by normal travel grants in accordance with the University travel policy (e.g. Internet on flights), but no travel advances will be issued out of Professional Expense Funds
• Membership dues in professional associations or learned societies (but not the University of Collective Agreement: Schedule B, Article 7)
• Unspent PER from one contract can be carried forward to any Sessional appointment in the same academic year.
• Unspent PER from the current academic year may be carried forward into the next academic year if the Sessional Appointee receives a subsequent appointment in that year Calgary Campus Recreation dues or those of other health / recreation facilities)
• Business meeting expenses Note: Business meeting expenses including the purchase of food must include an agenda as well as a list of attendees (See Appendix A: Quick Reference Guide for Meals, Hospitality and Travel Expenses in the Travel and Expense Handbook Guide for more details)
Ěý
Expenditures must relate to the Academic Staff Member’s present responsibilities for teaching, research, professional or general University duties. Please refer to theĚýProfessional Expense Reimbursement (PER) Handbook.
• Gifts of any kind (examples: gift cards, flowers, household items, clothing, etc.)
• Items not supported by a valid proof of payment
• Items previously reimbursed by the University
• Services provided to the Academic Staff Member by a third party (e.g. editing, writing, marking, etc.)
• Items or services provided to or for people, employees, or students of the University
• University parking fees
• Parking any of the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ campuses (Foothills, Downtown, Main Campus, etc.)
• Alcohol
• Immigration fees and/or citizenship costs, including vehicle and license registration
• Food and beverages not directly associated with a professional seminar, training program or meeting or the travel associated with such events (celebratory events may be reimbursed under a department or faculty policy)
• Interest or other finance or administrative charges associated with a purchase
• Fees for training courses of a general interest or non-professional nature
• ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ Campus Recreation dues or other health / recreation facilities.
• Payment to / payment for hiring any individual (example: students, spouses, dependents, honorarium, etc.)
• Subject Fees-For description of subject fees refer to Travel and Expense Handbook section 9.3
Ěý
Please refer to the Professional Expense Reimbursement (PER) Handbook
Expenditures must be in the name of the claimant. Therefore, invoices or receipts where the billing name does not match will be denied.
•ĚýScanned copy of itemized receipt or invoice uploaded.Ěý
• Academic Staff Member’s scanned copy of cancelled cheque and copy of related invoice if available.Ěý
• Credit card statements will be accepted as proof of payment where the goods or services were purchased via the internet or phone and no original paid invoice was issued by the supplier.Ěý
• The credit card statement along with documentation from the supplier verifying the items ordered and the costs, for example, a copy of the internet order, dues assessment notice, priced packing slip that accompanied the shipment.Ěý
•ĚýDebit/Credit card receipts by themselves will not be reimbursed. They must be accompanied by an itemized cash register receipt or paid invoice.Ěý
• In the event that evidence of payment is not available for expenses over $100 CAD, reimbursement will not be authorized. For expenses $100 CAD or less refer to the Travel and Expense Handbook, section 1.3.Ěý