Reimbursement

A reimbursement occurs when one person repays another person for an expense that was initially paid on their behalf.

Reimbursements are common when one person covers a shared cost upfront and others repay their portion later.

Examples of reimbursement

Examples include:

  • A roommate paying the electricity bill and receiving payments from others.
  • One person paying for group travel and collecting everyone’s share.
  • A partner covering a shared purchase and being repaid.

Reimbursement vs. settlement

A reimbursement usually refers to repaying a specific expense.

A settlement may involve clearing multiple balances and expenses together.