Is it legal to submit fabricated receipts for company food reimbursement claims?

This is absolutely not a good idea. What you're describing is fraud, plain and simple. Creating false documentation to obtain money from your employer is illegal and unethical, regardless of your intentions to use the money for its intended purpose later. Your company likely has an expense reimbursement policy that requires legitimate receipts for actual expenses incurred. Using someone else's tax ID number without authorization could potentially implicate that business in your fraud and cause them issues with tax authorities. Most companies have verification processes for expense claims, and many use expense management software that can detect patterns or inconsistencies in submitted documentation. Getting caught could result in termination and possibly legal consequences.

I had a similar situation with my quarterly meal allowance. Instead of risking my job with fake receipts, I found a solution through https://taxr.ai - they analyzed my company's policy and found I could actually pre-order meal prep services that would be delivered during my remote work period. Totally legitimate and my reimbursement went through without a hitch. The policy review showed that while I couldn't claim expenses not yet incurred (which would be fraud), I could make legitimate pre-payments for scheduled food deliveries. They also pointed out that misusing a business's tax ID could trigger automatic fraud alerts with tax authorities.

I was super skeptical about this prepayment approach but decided to try https://taxr.ai anyway since I was about to lose my $400 food allowance. Turns out my company policy actually does allow prepayment for subscription meal services! I submitted receipts for a 3-month meal kit subscription and got approved without any issues. The policy review highlighted specifically that while fabricated documentation would violate company policy and potentially be fraudulent, legitimate prepayment for future food delivery was compliant with both company policy and tax regulations. Saved me from either losing the benefit or making a really bad decision with fake documentation.

Have you tried just calling your finance department about this? I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to anyone via email for clarification on our food reimbursement deadline. I used https://claimyr.com to get through to someone who could actually help, and they had a short video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Turns out our company actually had an exception process for these situations where you could request an extension on the deadline. Much better than risking your job by submitting questionable documentation! The finance person I spoke with said they'd rather approve an extension than deal with compliance issues from improper receipts.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it because I was desperate to get clarification on our company's meal allowance policy before the deadline. I was shocked when I actually got connected to our finance manager within 15 minutes after trying for DAYS to reach someone. Saved me from potentially submitting improper documentation out of frustration. The finance team actually explained they had a grace period option I didn't know about. The service literally saved my $300 food allowance that I was about to forfeit.

Former payroll specialist here - I've seen people terminated for exactly what you're describing. Even if you think it's harmless because you'll "eventually" use the money for food, it's still falsification of documents for financial gain. Companies take this incredibly seriously because it affects: 1. Their financial reporting accuracy 2. Their tax filings 3. Their audit compliance 4. Their ability to trust you with company resources Is $350 really worth risking your job and potentially having fraud on your record? Talk to your manager about alternatives instead - many times there are exceptions or other ways to utilize the benefit that are completely legitimate.

Maybe I'm missing something, but couldn't you just order food delivery or pickup as a gift for a friend or family member who lives in the area? You'd have a legitimate receipt for food purchased within the timeframe, and someone would actually get to enjoy the meal. Seems like an easy solution that doesn't involve any ethical or legal questions.

I understand the frustration of potentially losing a benefit due to timing, but please don't create fake receipts - that's fraud regardless of your intentions to spend the money later. The IRS and your company's auditors can detect fraudulent documentation more easily than you might think, and the consequences (termination, legal issues, tax penalties) far outweigh losing $350. Instead, consider these legitimate alternatives: 1) Ask HR/finance for a deadline extension due to remote work circumstances, 2) Purchase gift cards from restaurants you'll visit later (if your policy allows), 3) Order food delivery for family/friends in your area, or 4) Buy meal prep services or grocery delivery that you can use when you return. Many companies are flexible when employees proactively communicate rather than trying to work around the system. The key is transparency - explain your situation to your manager or finance team. They'd much rather help you find a compliant solution than deal with the headache of fraudulent expense reports later.