Accounts Payable processes payments for vendors, faculty, staff, and students. The Accounts Payable office is responsible for ensuring that disbursements comply with internal and external regulations and actively seeks to provide courteous, timely, and professional service.

Accounts Payable Contact Information:

Melissa Smith
Accounts Payable Coordinator
mesmith@carleton.edu
507-222-7664

Payment Requests
The Business Office processes payments each week on Thursday. Please allow 7 business days for processing. The deadline to submit requests is 12:00pm Thursday to be included in the following Thursday's check run. Payment will be delayed if Accounts Payable is required to seek additional information or returns a request which does not have adequate support or proper approval.

Payment Request Forms

• Payment Request Forms marked "dept. pick-up" are available for pick-up after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Business Office. If a check has not been picked up within one week, the check will be mailed directly to the payee/vendor.
• Payment Request Forms marked "E-Check" will be reimbursed through electronic deposit (Reimbursement Bank Account) "Non-Payroll" to the account on record. Please sign up via Internet Explorer.
• Payment Request Forms marked "US Mail" will be mailed directly to payee/vendor.

Budget Authorization
Supervisor or Division Head authorization is required for payment requests reimbursed through department funds.  The Budget Authorization Grid provides guidance on budget authorizations for cash disbursements and purchase order requests.  Accounts Payable will review payment requests to ensure that the appropriate budget authorizations are in place before invoices are paid 

Invoices/Receipts
Submit itemized original invoices and/or receipts to Accounts Payable for payment.

• Invoices and/or receipts received for payment must include proper authorization, a valid Carleton general ledger account number, including a vendor expense code.
• Employee reimbursement requests, not utilizing Faculty PDA funds, require Supervisor or Division Head approval.
• If the business purpose of the transaction is not clearly evident, please include a brief explanation.

Faculty Entertaining Students Program
To request reimbursement, please attach original itemized receipts, the departmental charge number and a secondary approval signature on a Payment Request Form to accounts payable for processing. You may also use the Carleton VISA Purchasing Card to charge expenses and account for them as you normally would in PaymentNet.

Gifts on Behalf of the College

Other Gifts & Prizes
Departments may use departmental funds for a modest reception to recognize an employee who is retiring or leaving the College.  Gifts are considered a personal expense.

Length of service gifts and awards are centrally coordinated by Human Resources and College Relations.

Gift Certificates and Gift Cards no matter how small their value are considered income by the IRS, and should be avoided. 

A Prize recognizes performance as part of a judged competition, e.g. best design, highest score, academic achievement, etc. or winnings from a raffle or drawing.  Prizes are taxable (IRS Form 1099-MISC).

Sales Tax
Carleton College is a non-profit educational institution exempt from Minnesota sales tax on the purchase of goods and services in Minnesota.  However, the College is not exempt from sales taxes on hotel or restaurant purchases.  The College will not reimburse departments or individuals for sales tax paid on the purchase of goods or services.

Certificate of Exempt Status

Payment for Services of an Independent Contractor or Consultant
Periodically services are required for a limited or intermittent period of time through an independent contractor/consultant.  

Please contact Human Resources before hiring an independent contractor.  If an independent contractor does not meet specific qualifications, they may need to be hired as an employee.

All payments for services to independent contractors/consultants must be made directly from Carleton College to insure compliance with all IRS withholding and reporting requirements.

Independent Contractor/Consultant Form

IRS resource information to assist with the determination of Independent Contractor vs. Employee classification

New Vendor Set-up
Accounts Payable requires all vendors to have an IRS W-9 on file with the College.  The IRS W-9 confirms the vendors legal company name and taxpayer identification number.  Vendor payment will not be made without a W-9 on file.

Vendors may now receive payment through ACH Direct Deposit, eliminating the need for a paper check.  Vendors who would like to receive ACH payments must fill out the Vendor ACH Authorization Form (along with a voided check) and return it to the Carleton College Business Office.

Carleton College
Attn:  Accounts Payable
One North College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

Note:  A W-9 is not required for current students and employees, and prospective students.

Recruiting and Candidate Visit Expenses
Candidate expenses shall be consistent with employee reimbursement guidelines for transportation, meals, and lodging. Original itemized receipts are required for substantiation and must include names of attendees, relationship to the College, and the business purpose of the meal.

Centralized Purchasing

Computers
In order to secure and standardize computer hardware and peripherals, Carleton College requires all computer equipment purchases to be coordinated with Information Technologies Services.

Furniture
In order to ensure building furnishings across campus are consistent in quality and the ambiance of the building is maintained, carpeting, furniture, and wall coverings are purchased through the Facilities Department.  Please reference the Facilities Work Order and/or Facility Change Request.

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Travel Grants
Fellowships, scholarships, and awards are generally not reportable under the IRS guidelines, but are considered taxable income.  U.S. Citizens or resident aliens of the United States must report the fellowship as income in the year it is received.  The College will not withhold any amount towards payment of federal, state or local income taxes and will not send a Form 1099 or Form W-2 to you.  It is your responsibility to report the payment on your federal, state or local income tax return and pay all applicable taxes.   Please refer to IRS Publication 970, "Tax Benefits for Education" for more information. 

Non-Resident Aliens will be subject to withholding taxes on payments received.  Non-Resident Alien payments are reported annually to both the individual and the IRS on form 1042-S.  Please contact Shari Mayer at smayer@carleton.edu or ext. 4022.

Foreign National Alien Payments
A honorarium may be paid to a foreign national for "usual academic activity or activities."  These activities include lecturing, teaching, and sharing of knowledge or performance.  A honorarium paid to a foreign national is subject to 30% withholding, unless the person can claim a tax treaty benefit, and the required forms and identification are submitted to the Business Office.  This withholding also applies to a nonresident alien entity.  Travel reimbursements are not subject to withholding.  Please contact Shari Mayer at smayer@carleton.edu for assistance.

Political Contribution and/or Lobbying
Carleton College is a 501 (c)(3) corporation.  No political contributions to a political campaign or candidate can be made by a 501 (c)(3) corporation.