Frequently Asked Questions - PCard Compliance

Reimbursements to the University should be provided to the Bursar's Office for deposit. The account # and object code of the original PCard expense should be utilized for the deposit. Please email a scanned copy of the Cash Receipt to Financial Compliance as a proof that the University was reimbursed.

The free “promotional items” should go to the Business Manager for your department. This free “promotional item” must be used for the benefit of the Department in line with the funding source and applicable policies unique to the situation. See PCard Policy 14.6 Purchase Rewards.

PCard Administration will be happy to assist you in handling these items. They can be contacted at 520-626-9091.

All PCard transactions (PCDO) must include:

1. An original invoice/receipt attached to the Notes and Attachments tab on the PCDO. Original invoices/receipts must include:
   • Name of the vendor
   • A title/description of each item purchased
   • An amount for each item purchased
   • Any tip (may be handwritten)
   • Tax (if charged)
   • Shipping (if charged)
   • Other fees charged
   • A total that matches the charge to the PCard
2. A business purpose for the expenditure. The business purpose provides justification for why the expenditure was incurred, how it benefited the University of Arizona, and how it complied with all laws and regulations. For example:
   • Lab supplies for Dr. Owen’s research project
   • Office supplies for business or mission of the college or department
   • Food for departmental team building meeting
   • Scientific journal subscription for department library
   • Airline ticket for a University employee to attend a conference and the benefit to the College/Department. Include the Travel Authorization #.
3. In addition to the business purpose, the following common PCard purchases require the documentation listed in the table below:

If all the required information is attached to the Notes and Attachments, additional forms are not required. Departments may use the Purchase Authorization Form, or create their own form if they choose.

• Business units are responsible for maintaining all original receipts and supporting documentation until record retention requirements have been met.
• After 180 days from the date the Purchasing Card transaction was approved, the original copy, or non-official record, may be destroyed at the department’s business office discretion.
  • FEDERAL EXCEPTION: If documentation is to support a Federal grant expenditure, the record retention policy requires maintaining the original documentation for one year from the date the expense was finalized

Please see PCard Policies Manual, Chapter 11.0 Fraudulent Transactions. PCard Administration will provide a Purchasing Card External Fraud Transactional Documentation Form to be fill out. The department should provide a copy of this document as a part of their back up for all transactions associated to the fraud.

Tipping of any kind (i.e. food, taxis, etc.) should not be greater than 20% of the total amount.

No, meals while on travel status should be processed through Financial Services Travel either with meal reimbursements or with meal receipts on the Travel Expense Report. University employees have the option of obtaining a Travel Advance from Financial Services Travel in place of personal funds or credit card.

No, purchase of gasoline for a personal vehicle is not allowed on the PCard even while on University approved business. However, Financial Services Travel handles reimbursement for gasoline purchases or mileage for a personal vehicle on University business.

No, University insurance liability does not cover rental cars rented/driven by non-employees.

No, payments to or on behalf of a non-employee, non-student, who is not a US citizen or permanent resident, cannot be made using the PCard. Due to the complexity of immigration laws, we suggest that you contact Accounts Payable at 520-621-9097 or FNSV-Accounts-Payable@arizona.edu regarding expenses/reimbursements that are allowed under specific visa types.

The PCard can be used to pay for an all-inclusive conference. The card will need to have the travel and hotel enhancement.

Uber drivers notify the traveler via their mobile device upon arrival that "wait time" charges are initiated two minutes upon the Uber driver's arrival at the designated location. Business units are required to monitor these charges and excessive "wait time" (exceeding .99 cents) should be evaluated and documented with a University business purpose. If a University business purpose is not provided (ex: shopping, socializing) the charges should be deducted from the reimbursement or repaid to the University.

If a PCard was used, a Self-Reporting Violation Form (SRV) should be completed and included with the documentation. In addition, the PCard should not be saved to any Uber account.

The review/follow up process is set in place to give departments the opportunity to submit the information required by policy/procedures while training departments on those policies. This is the initial step in making sure that documentation is adequate, appropriate, and legitimate. This also assists in case of an audit.

Please reply on the follow-up spreadsheet and send it back to Financial Compliance as a reply to the original email request. if you have any questions, contact Financial Compliance at FNSV-Compliance@arizona.edu or 520-621-9097. 

Financial Compliance pulls all the monthly PCDO transactions and from that total population generates a statistical random sample that is not based on dollar amount, department number or vendor. It is compiled to the total population to reflect a sample that represents the whole as an internal control to evaluate risk.

On the Procurement Card Document (PCDO), click on Vendor Name to view the information.  Under the vendor state code, the initials of the state or foreign country are listed.

A Self-Reporting Violation (SRV) will need to be completed by the responsible user. Although no reimbursement is needed, a detailed University business purpose must still be included. The department will be required to gross up the amount to pay any tax liability, if applicable.

Payments to a foreign merchant processed as international transactions are assessed a 1.5% fee by the processor/bank (not the merchant). The invoice may be in US dollars or a foreign currency. In addition, the conversion rate will vary depending on the day and hour the transaction was processed.

To calculate the amount of the international fee, open the PCDO and click on the Transaction ID Number and review the currency code under Transaction Original Currency Code.

• If the amount is in US dollars (Code 840), subtract the Transaction Total Amount from the Transaction Original Currency Amount. The difference is the international fee, and it should be equal to 1% of the Transaction Original Currency Amount
• If the amount is in a foreign currency (other codes), the international fee must be factored from the total amount. Divide the Transaction Total Amount by 1.0 which will provide the Transaction Original Amount in US dollars. Then, subtract the Transaction Total Amount from the Transaction Original Amount in US dollars.

Example: Transaction Billing Currency Code is EUR and the Transaction Total Amount is $619.44. Divide $619.44/1.00. Transaction Original Amount in US dollars is $613.30. Then, the international processing fee is $6.14 ($619.44 – $613.30).

Use tax should not be paid on these types of fees. Object code 5535 Purchasing Transaction Fees should be used on a separate accounting line for the amount of the international processing fee.

The payment may need to be processed by Purchase Order or Disbursement Voucher through Accounts Payable depending on the type of payment. Contact FNSV-Compliance@arizona.edu or 520-621-9097 for assistance.