A survey carried out at Accountex North has revealed some of the most surprising — and sometimes hilarious — expense claims accountants have ever seen, from wedding dresses and cosmetic surgery to football boxes, racehorses, and doggy daycare.

The findings show just how far some individuals are willing to stretch the definition of a business expense, putting accountants and bookkeepers in the hot seat when it comes to compliance. Cloud2Me asked professionals across the sector to share the strangest and most memorable claims from their careers.

The responses revealed a mix of luxury purchases, extravagant travel, and creative justifications, highlighting how blurred the boundaries between personal and professional spending can become.

Luxury & Status

• Rolex watch

• £42,000 Manchester City corporate box

Travel & Entertainment

• Trips to Ibiza, Paris, and Las Vegas (with limos)

• Ski trip paired with a strip club visit

Personal Life

• Wedding dresses and engagement rings

• Private school fees

Unusual or Unexpected

• Racehorse as “work equipment”

• Cosmetic surgery

• Doggy daycare and accessories

• £500 of McDonald’s

• Aquarium and Werther’s Originals

 

Although unsuccessful in most cases, the claims highlight the imaginative approaches some take when attempting to reclassify personal spending as business-related.

The Accountant’s Role: Gatekeepers of Compliance

Commenting on the findings, Helen Brooks, Head of Commercial at Cloud2Me, said:
 “Accountants really do see it all - from Rolexes and wedding dresses to pet daycare and ski trips. While these examples might make us smile, they’re also a reminder of how important accountants are in guiding businesses through compliance and making sure things are done properly. Behind every bizarre claim is a serious responsibility… keeping companies on the right side of HMRC.”

Expense claims often expose just how fine the line is between legitimate business costs and personal indulgence. Although most businesses aim to stay compliant, accountants acknowledge that claims testing these boundaries are not uncommon.

 

Navigating the Grey Areas

These grey areas underline the vital role accountants play in protecting businesses and their clients from financial risk and potential HMRC penalties. Their expertise ensures that firms remain compliant while avoiding costly mistakes — even when faced with claims that are more entertaining than admissible.

Helen adds:
 “We know the accountancy sector can be incredibly serious and high-pressure, especially around tax deadlines. But there’s also room to celebrate the lighter moments. This survey shows the human side of the profession, and we’re proud to be part of that conversation.”

 

More Than Number-Crunchers

The survey reinforces that accountants are not just responsible for managing figures, but act as trusted advisers and guardians of good governance. In an environment of growing financial scrutiny, their role has never been more important — even when that role includes explaining why a racehorse, ski trip, or aquarium doesn’t quite qualify as essential business equipment.

 

About Cloud2Me

Cloud2Me is the fastest-growing UK-based hosted desktop provider dedicated to the accountancy sector. Founded in 2013, the company provides secure, scalable, and high-performance hosted environments for accountancy firms of all sizes. With UK-based support and deep expertise in accountancy software, they help firms run smoothly, securely, and confidently.