Is it possible to obtain a receipt when using points

[niroc]

I just tried calling member services and they weren't able to answer my question so maybe someone here can.

Due to the requirements of my job/license I must obtain a certain amount of continuing education credits per year. These credits can be earned either through online courses and/or conferences. There are many of these conferences in the Orlando area throughout the year. My employer will pay a certain amount towards these credits including travel expenses. However I must turn in receipts.

So my question is if I book a DVC resort using points is it possible to obtain some sort of cash value receipt that I can turn in to my employer? The only answer member services was able to give is that I would have to check with the front desk when I arrived.

If I need to earn these credits anyway I might as well earn them at Disney and have some fun in between!

 

[MouseMomx2]

No, they won't be able to do this. Since you are not paying with cash they will not be able to generate a receipt that shows a cash payment.

Could you show your boss the cash value (you can find it on allearsnet.com) and your resort recipt that shows the dates of your stay?

 

[delmar411]

Maybe you should just rent points from someone instead? That way you could have a receipt to turn in.

 

[POTCfan]

I don't know what relationship you have with your boss, but I have done the following (with a timeshare that is not Disney, but I was in the same situation that I couldn't really get a receipt): I've gone on Expedia or Travelocity and gotten a quote on a variety of accommodations in the area that my boss would pay for. I showed them to him and then said that I could get cheaper accommodations at a timeshare (giving him the number that it costs me), but then told him I would not be able to get a traditional receipt. He did have me submit a print out of my stay (which did not include the price), but I think he was happy paying a lower price. Granted, if your workplace is more structured it might not work, but it did work for me.

 

[niroc]

Could you show your boss the cash value (you can find it on allearsnet.com) and your resort recipt that shows the dates of your stay?[/QUOTE]

I am not looking to show that I paid "cash", all I need is the cash value. I will look at Allears and see what I can find. Thanks

Maybe you should just rent points from someone instead? That way you could have a receipt to turn in.

This wouldn't help because I have my own points to use. And unfortunately at this stage of my life I am only able to go on one Disney trip per year.

I don't know what relationship you have with your boss, but I have done the following (with a timeshare that is not Disney, but I was in the same situation that I couldn't really get a receipt): I've gone on Expedia or Travelocity and gotten a quote on a variety of accommodations in the area that my boss would pay for. I showed them to him and then said that I could get cheaper accommodations at a timeshare (giving him the number that it costs me), but then told him I would not be able to get a traditional receipt. He did have me submit a print out of my stay (which did not include the price), but I think he was happy paying a lower price. Granted, if your workplace is more structured it might not work, but it did work for me.

Thanks for the suggestion I actually thought of doing something like this but the problem is I work at a "local" branch of a national corporation where everything is submitted to the corporate office.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Not that I have done this, but I wonder if they could use your maintenance fee per point cost of the stay for re-imbursement?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Perhaps just an agreement for the per diem rate reimbursement.

 

[rcchello]

The only receipt is the one online showing the number of points for the reservation. Disney does not associate a cash value to the points you use, so will not provide a receipt for their cash value. I worked at a major corporation and there was no way to voucher a non-cash transaction of this nature. The closest they would allow was a hostess gift when staying with a friend or family member.

 

[DebbieB]

The problem is if they are audited by the IRS, your receipt could be looked at. They would have to have some way to justify the amount legally. It's a question for a tax accountant. I would stay in a regular hotel, turn it in for reimbursement, and save your points.

 

[niroc]

The problem is if they are audited by the IRS, your receipt could be looked at. They would have to have some way to justify the amount legally. It's a question for a tax accountant. I would stay in a regular hotel, turn it in for reimbursement, and save your points.

This is exactly why I would want a receipt that shows the cash value. It would be the only thing to hold up to an audit. Well its looks like my original guess, and the responses so far, says that this won't be possible.

Just something I wanted to explore. I guess I will be "forced" into using my points purely for pleasure.

 

[Dean]

I just tried calling member services and they weren't able to answer my question so maybe someone here can.

Due to the requirements of my job/license I must obtain a certain amount of continuing education credits per year. These credits can be earned either through online courses and/or conferences. There are many of these conferences in the Orlando area throughout the year. My employer will pay a certain amount towards these credits including travel expenses. However I must turn in receipts.

So my question is if I book a DVC resort using points is it possible to obtain some sort of cash value receipt that I can turn in to my employer? The only answer member services was able to give is that I would have to check with the front desk when I arrived.

If I need to earn these credits anyway I might as well earn them at Disney and have some fun in between!

Technically they could pay you the per diem rate for housing as well as food and be legal but rarely will they do so (I've asked m company and the CFO of the local Hosp about this and they both say no way). Otherwise you cannot be legally reimbursed for a timeshare you own no matter the value or timeshare costs of the trip itself. If the employer did so they'd be committing fraud and as noted, an audit could be a problem for them. I'd pull up the per diem rate for the area and time of year and print it out. Show them and ask them to pay this rate which will be a win-win situation for them compared to paying cash and not using your points. I face this all the time. Went to HI last summer and stayed at the Maui Ocean Club unreimbursed for a meeting. This fall we're staying at an Orlando Marriott unreimbursed and next Fall, likely in San Antonio also unreimbursed. I get X time and money each year and I rarely use all of the allotted funds and almost never use the full time allowed.

 

[delilah]

I also travel for CME. My hospital is very strict about having original receipts for things like that, so, I save my points for a family vacation not related to CME. One year, I combined the two to extend my trip and make it a longer family vacation. The conference was a Grand Floridian on Thurs-Sunday. We arrived the Sunday before the conference and stayed at SSR. My hospital is very picky about receipts for CME trips, so, I don't think they would be saitified for an estimate. One year, they even reduced the amount they reimbursed to the value for a lower priced room , even though my husband and son were with me. This was in a hotel that had one bedroom rooms, which had an occupancy of two guests, and two bedroom rooms, which I needed to get because my son needed to have a bed. He was about 2 or 3 at the time, so leaving home alone was not feasible. The hospital didn't object for paying for my husband, just my son. So, I had to pay the difference. So, you might be able to get buy with an estimate for cash value, although I know I wouldn't.

I have donated points to my son's school for theirlo silent auction fundraiser. For that, I actually claimed the amount that I would have received if I had rented the points for cash.

 

[rcchello]

The previous poster says they contributed a week to charity and took it off on their taxes, that will probably not pass a tax audit. . From IRS Pub. 526:

"Generally, you cannot deduct a charitable contribution of less than your entire interest in property.

Right to use property. A contribution of the right to use property is a contribution of less than your entire interest in that property and is not deductible."

 

[OneMoreTry]

If they reimburse you anyway, pay for room at the Poly and save the points. That's what I would do.

 

[Dean]

I have donated points to my son's school for theirlo silent auction fundraiser. For that, I actually claimed the amount that I would have received if I had rented the points for cash.

As noted, this is not legal. You cannot deduct partial use of an owned property such as time at a timeshare or condo. This is a major audit red flag. I know it's been done and many have gotten by with it but it's just that.

 

[Firepath]

This may sound dumb, but perhaps you could rent out your own points and then turn around and rent what you need from David's. You'd be able to use up your points, get a DVC room, and a receipt for your employer. It would involve some extra work but I think that would get you everything you're hoping for.

 

[niroc]

Technically they could pay you the per diem rate for housing as well as food and be legal but rarely will they do so (I've asked m company and the CFO of the local Hosp about this and they both say no way). Otherwise you cannot be legally reimbursed for a timeshare you own no matter the value or timeshare costs of the trip itself. If the employer did so they'd be committing fraud and as noted, an audit could be a problem for them. I'd pull up the per diem rate for the area and time of year and print it out. Show them and ask them to pay this rate which will be a win-win situation for them compared to paying cash and not using your points. I face this all the time. Went to HI last summer and stayed at the Maui Ocean Club unreimbursed for a meeting. This fall we're staying at an Orlando Marriott unreimbursed and next Fall, likely in San Antonio also unreimbursed. I get X time and money each year and I rarely use all of the allotted funds and almost never use the full time allowed.

I doubt they will pay the per diem rate. I'm in the same boat as you, I seldom use my time or money. That is why I was hoping to be able to use my Florida trip as part of my CEUs.

I would love to be able to go twice a year to Disney, once on points and once as a conference, but with 4 girls ages 2 - 6 it just too cost prohibitive at this point in my life. My employer is generous but not quite that generous

 

[niroc]

This may sound dumb, but perhaps you could rent out your own points and then turn around and rent what you need from David's. You'd be able to use up your points, get a DVC room, and a receipt for your employer. It would involve some extra work but I think that would get you everything you're hoping for.

Too many things could go wrong there but thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Dean]

I doubt they will pay the per diem rate. I'm in the same boat as you, I seldom use my time or money. That is why I was hoping to be able to use my Florida trip as part of my CEUs.

I would love to be able to go twice a year to Disney, once on points and once as a conference, but with 4 girls ages 2 - 6 it just too cost prohibitive at this point in my life. My employer is generous but not quite that generous

Could you stay longer using the points for your time and get them to pay cash for their portion. Or maybe you could let them pay for a 1 BR and you could get a studio on your own (esp if they balk at the 2 BR on cash). Another trick I've learned (I try not to lose $$$ if I can help it) is to buy air or register for next years conference and go ahead and turn it in on this years $$$. I'm told that's OK since the item was bought and paid in the current year. Obviously this only rolls it forward but then some trips are more costly than others. We did this last year doing a meeting in HI and staying on for vacation afterwards. I paid for the room (timeshare) and they paid air, car, per diem and registration. I bought and was reimbursed for the ticket the year before to use up $$$ that year. There are many possible variations, I'm sure you'll find the one that's right for you and your situation.

 

[niroc]

Could you stay longer using the points for your time and get them to pay cash for their portion. Or maybe you could let them pay for a 1 BR and you could get a studio on your own (esp if they balk at the 2 BR on cash). Another trick I've learned (I try not to lose $$$ if I can help it) is to buy air or register for next years conference and go ahead and turn it in on this years $$$. I'm told that's OK since the item was bought and paid in the current year. Obviously this only rolls it forward but then some trips are more costly than others. We did this last year doing a meeting in HI and staying on for vacation afterwards. I paid for the room (timeshare) and they paid air, car, per diem and registration. I bought and was reimbursed for the ticket the year before to use up $$$ that year. There are many possible variations, I'm sure you'll find the one that's right for you and your situation.

I never thought of but like both options here. I can extend my stay but I would have to change the time of year I go. We like going in May which means the girls have to miss 5 days of school. I wouldn't want them to miss any more time than that.

The 1 bedroom/1 studio would work if I can get a 2 bedroom lock off but what are the chances of them allowing me to use points for one and cash for the other AND guaranteeing that they would be next to each other (i.e. 2 bedroom lock off)?