Policy Notes: Petty Cash Fund

The following policies apply to use of, protection of, and accounting protocol for petty cash funds for minor business expenses.

On this page:

Primary Policy Sources: Administrative Guide Memo 36.6

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Petty Cash Reimbursements Limits


Petty cash reimbursements are authorized up to $100 per transaction. The reimbursement MUST be for the exact amount of the expense. Splitting transactions exceeding $100 or requesting reimbursement for less than the full expense is not allowed.

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Instances When Petty Cash May Not be Used


Petty cash may NOT be used for:

  • Payment for services performed by employees or non-employees
  • Advances
  • Gifts
  • Personal loans and cashing personal checks
  • Buying hazardous materials
  • Stanford Faculty Club dues
  • Social or travel club dues
  • University parking permits (personal expense)
  • Traffic citations
  • Personal expenses
  • Transactions involving students
  • Interest charges
  • Amounts over $100 (unless a department requests, and the Treasurer approves, a higher limit for the department)
  • Expenses over 120 days old (anything older than 120 days must be reimbursed through an iOU)
  • Recurring expenses (e.g. employee business-related home internet or cell phone expenses)
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Protecting Petty Cash


All Petty Cash Custodians and temporary custodians MUST complete the Petty Cash Tutorial and the associated Petty Cash Online Quiz before assuming responsibility for the fund.

Keep all petty cash in a locked box, and the locked box in a locked desk or cabinet. Only Custodians should have access to petty cash.

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Accounting Protocol for Petty Cash Transactions


Proper petty cash accounting requires custodians to obtain receipts, record expenditures and make payments only for authorized expenditures. A sales slip, cash register tape, or other receipt MUST be attached to a Received of Petty Cash form for each expenditure.

The only exception is reimbursement for mileage where a log with odometer readings, date, destination and business purpose serves in lieu of a receipt.

When a receipt is not available, a Lost / Missing Receipt Form should be completed. This MUST be signed by the person being reimbursed and approved by a person with signature authority for the account or activity charged.

The petty cash fund should always balance. The total cash on hand plus the total receipts and reimbursement requests in process should equal the original amount of the petty cash fund.

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Approval Policy


No one may approve his or her own reimbursement request. Also an individual may NOT approve expenses for anyone to whom he or she reports, either directly or indirectly.

The Petty Cash Custodian may NOT approve online petty cash replenishment requests. Replenishment requests must be reviewed and approved by a person with online signature authority for the department activities / accounts being charged.

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