The BYU-Idaho Purchasing Card gives the cardholder advanced authority for official university purchases. Where possible, it should be used in place of departmental hand checks, check requests, petty cash, and purchase orders under $1,000.
All full-time and part-time (non-student) employees are eligible to apply for a card as deemed necessary by their supervisor. When a card is issued, the cardholder is responsible for the following:
o Security and proper use of the card
o Reviewing the monthly statements for accuracy - including while away from the University for extended periods of time
o Forwarding statements and attached support to his/her supervisor for review
o Forwarding the reviewed statements and attached support to the Accounting Office by the 20th of the month following the statement date
A department purchasing card is also available to departments as deemed prudent for use by multiple department employees. The supervisor of the cardholder is responsible for ensuring that the policies above are followed.
When a cardholder terminates employment or retires, his/her card will be canceled. When Financial Services becomes aware of a change in cardholder responsibility, the card will be inactivated or closed. An employee may apply for a new card or reactivation by contacting Financial Services. Human Resources is responsible for notifying Financial Services of all terminations, retirements and other position changes in a timely manner.
Procedures
1. Application forms for a new Purchasing Card are obtained from Financial Services during normal business hours (extension 1901). Each form requires the signature of the proposed cardholder and the custodian or department chair of the General Ledger account number to be charged. If the applicant is also the custodian of the account, his/her immediate supervisor will be required to approve the application.
2. When the card application is received by Financial Services, the cardholder will be added to an I-Learn training group called Purchasing Card Training. The training is a brief review of the policies and procedures governing the use of the card and includes a test to ensure they are understood. When the card is received by Financial Services from the issuer, the card applicant will be notified that it can be picked up in Kimball 290. A 100 percent score on the test is required before the card will be released to the cardholder. In addition, the Purchasing Card Training and accompanying test will be required to be re-taken each time the card expires and is replaced-every three years. If this is not completed by the card renewal date, the card limit will be decreased to $0 until the training and test are completed.
3. Once the employee has received his/her card, it should be used in place of other payment methods to buy items (e.g., supplies, subscriptions, professional memberships, and other goods) unless restricted below. Misuse of the card may result in disciplinary action or termination from employment.
4. The dollar limit is $1,000 per transaction and $3,000 per month unless otherwise approved by the cardholder's supervisor, vice president, and the Director of Financial Services (contact Financial Services to obtain the appropriate form). Temporary exceptions may be granted but require supervisor and Financial Services approval before the purchase is made. Please be aware that trying to pay for one item with two transactions to supersede this limit, referred to as "splitting", is a violation of this policy.
5. The card must not be used to make personal purchases.
6. The card cannot be used at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
7. The card cannot be used for any services performed by an individual, partnership, or sole proprietorship which may be reported to the IRS (e.g., entertainment, royalties, honorariums, stipends, consultations, applied music lessons, contract services, moving expenses, etc.) Use a Check Request for these items.
8. The card should not be used for travel expenses. A University Corporate Travel card, obtainable from Financial Services, or a personal credit card should be used for travel expenses.
9. The card should not be used to purchase capital equipment (over $2,500) or computer equipment. Please refer to procedure number three above.
10. Each cardholder should obtain a receipt or other documentation for each charge to be attached to the monthly statement when received. If the card is used over the phone or by mail where no receipt is available, other documentation and an explanation of the charge should be attached to the monthly statement when it is received. If a receipt is lost or unattainable, a "Lost or Missing Receipt Affidavit" form must also be completed and included with the statement. This form is available from the Accounting Office. The business purpose of the purchases should be written on the statement or each receipt by the cardholder.
11. The balance due on all Purchasing Cards is paid each month by the university with the detail of all transactions forwarded electronically to the Accounting Office at BYU-Idaho. In addition, the card company mails a statement each month to each cardholder.
12. Each cardholder must verify the validity of all purchases on his/her monthly statement, indicate any change in the account or category to be charged for each item, attach supporting receipts or documents, sign the statement, obtain the supervisor's review and signature, and submit the statement with receipts attached to the Accounting Office on or before the 20th of the month. Repeated failure to meet this deadline may result in the cancellation of the Purchasing Card. It is suggested that a copy of the statement be made and retained in the file of the cardholder or account custodian.
13. The cardholder's supervisor has primary responsibility for reviewing the cardholder's use of the purchasing card to ensure purchases are appropriate and applicable procedures are followed. The supervisor's signature on the cardholder's statement is an indication that the review has been performed.
14. Charges for a particular month will not be recorded in the General Ledger accounts until the following month when payment and processing have been completed. The Accounting Office will charge the account(s) indicated on each approved statement when received.
15. The Accounting Office will ensure that all properly signed and approved statements are received from cardholders. If the deadline for turning in the statements (20th of the month) is missed, both the cardholder and supervisor will be notified. An additional notification will be sent on the 25th. If a statement is not received in the Accounting Office by the end of the month, the limit will be reduced and the card may be canceled. If a card is canceled, the Accounting Office will review all charges for 75 days prior to cancellation and all charges afterwards. The Accounting Office will also select several transactions each month for review to ensure proper policies and procedures are followed and that purchases appear appropriate.
16. If a charge on the monthly statement is disputed by the cardholder (either a wrong amount or unknown charge), the cardholder is responsible to resolve this dispute as he/she would with any dispute on his/her own personal account.