Compt: How to Set Up Pre-Approval for Stipend Claims - Admins

Pre-Approval allows Admins to automatically approve certain stipend claims without manual review. This helps reduce time spent reviewing common or recurring expenses that meet predefined criteria.

Admins can configure Pre-Approval in two ways: by setting an amount threshold or by allowing specific vendor and category combinations to automatically approve. When a claim meets the configured criteria, it is automatically moved to the Pre-Approved Expenses section and will be included when payroll is run.

This feature helps streamline claim review while still allowing Admins to spot-check or modify pre-approved claims if needed.

OVERVIEW

Pre-Approval is designed to reduce manual claim review for expenses that are predictable and commonly submitted by Employees. When enabled, qualifying claims are automatically approved and moved into the Pre-Approved Expenses section.

Admins can configure two types of Pre-Approval:

• Pre-Approval by Amount – Automatically approves taxable claims that fall below a specified dollar amount.

• Pre-Approval by Vendor – Automatically approves claims when both the vendor and category match an approved combination.

Even when claims are automatically approved, Admins can still review, reject, or recategorize them before payroll is processed.

WHEN TO USE

Use Pre-Approval when your company frequently receives predictable or recurring claims that do not require manual review.

Common examples include:

• Monthly wellness app subscriptions
• Frequently used vendors like gyms or learning platforms
• Small taxable purchases under a specific amount

Pre-Approval helps speed up the claim review process while maintaining oversight.

BEFORE YOU START

Before configuring Pre-Approval, ensure that:

• You have Admin access in Compt.
• Your stipend categories are already configured.
• You understand which vendors or expense types your company wants to auto-approve.

Pre-Approval settings apply to future submitted claims that match the configured criteria.

HOW TO

1. Log into Compt.
2. Click Stipend Admin in the sidebar.
3. Click Company Settings.

4. Locate the Pre-Approval Settings section.

   

5. Click on one of the following options:

   • Pre-Approval by Amount Settings

   • Pre-Approval by Vendor Settings

SET UP PRE-APPROVAL BY AMOUNT

1. Click on Pre-Approval by Amount Settings.
2. Review the description explaining how Pre-Approval by Amount works.

3. Locate the setting for taxable expenses of $X or less.

   

4. Check the checkbox to enable the feature.
5. Enter the maximum dollar amount for automatic approval.
6. Click Save to apply the setting.

Claims that fall at or below this threshold will automatically be approved.

SET UP PRE-APPROVAL BY VENDOR

1. Click on Pre-Approval by Vendor Settings.
2. Review the description explaining how vendor-based Pre-Approval works.
3. Browse the available stipend categories.

4. Within each category, select the vendors you want to automatically approve.

   

5. Save your changes.

Compt provides commonly used vendor options based on platform usage across customers.

For a claim to be automatically approved:

• The vendor must match, and
• The category must match a selected combination.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

When an Employee submits a claim that meets Pre-Approval criteria:

• The claim automatically bypasses manual review.
• The claim moves to the Pre-Approved Expenses section of the Payroll screen.
• The claim will automatically be included when you run payroll.

Admins can still review these claims before payroll is processed.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Claim was not automatically approved

Possible reasons include:

• The vendor was not selected in Pre-Approval settings.
• The claim category did not match the approved category.
• The claim amount exceeded the Pre-Approval limit.

Review your Pre-Approval Settings to confirm the correct vendor or amount configuration.

FAQS

Q: Can I review claims that were automatically approved?

A: Yes. Admins can view all automatically approved claims in the Pre-Approved tab under Review Claims.

Q: Can I reject a pre-approved claim?

A: Yes. Open the claim and click the three-dot menu on the right side of the expense to reject or update it.

Q: Can I change the category of a pre-approved claim?

A: Yes. Admins can recategorize the claim from the three-dot menu if needed.

Q: Are pre-approved claims automatically paid out?

A: Pre-approved claims are automatically included when payroll is run.