Purchasing and Expensing Gift Cards

Purchasing Gift Cards:

  1. For non-employee recipients: It is recommended that you purchase gift cards via the Blackhawk Network punchout catalog in UVA Marketplace. See Blackhawk Gift Card Punchout Resources.
  2. For employee recipients: It is required that you purchase gift cards with a University T&E Card. Employee gift cards should not be purchased via the Blackhawk Network punchout catalog or via a Purchase Order. They can be purchased from local or online vendors.
     

Expensing Gift Cards:

  1. For non-employee recipients (including students):  
    • After purchasing gift cards via the Blackhawk Network punchout catalog in UVA Marketplace (recommended):
      • Please use either of the following Spend Categories for your purchase (whichever is appropriate): (i) Gifts Non-Cash Non-Employee (SC0118), or (ii) Services Human Subject Payments (SC0210).
    • After purchasing gift cards with a University T&E Card:
      • Please use either of the following Expense Items for your purchase (whichever is appropriate): (i) Gift Card Non-Employee, or (ii) Human Subject Payments.
  2. For employee recipients (including for Medical Center or UPG employee recipients):
    • After purchasing gift cards with a University T&E Card:
      • Please use the following Expense Item for your purchase: Employee Award Taxable
         

Additional Notes:

  • University employees are not allowed to purchase gift cards with personal funds and seek reimbursement.  
  • If gift cards will be distributed to students, please seek approval from Student Financial Services prior to purchase.
  • Gift cards are taxable at any amount.
    • For non-employee recipients: Process TBD. 
      • If your specific gift card purchase has IRB guidelines that prevent you from tracking certain information (or any information in some cases), please follow those guidelines accordingly.
    • For employee recipients: All gift cards to employees will be taxed via the Expense module in Workday, as these purchases are required to be on a University T&E Card.