[Claim for Actual Subsistence Expenses]

An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee appealed a Claims Group decision which denied his claim for reimbursements for drycleaning and meal expenses which he incurred while on temporary duty. His claim was denied on the basis that drycleaning charges were personal expenses, not incurred as part of his official travel. GAO noted that, since his drycleaning expenses were incurred before and after travel, they could not be considered part of his official travel subsistence expenses. The employee's claim was also reduced for the cost of two meals on the grounds that the costs were exorbitant based on agency guidelines. GAO stated that an employee is entitled to reimbursement for only reasonable expenses incurred on a temporary duty assignment because travelers are required to act prudently in incurring expenses. GAO will overturn the employing agency's initial determination of the reasonableness of meal expenses only where its review results in a finding that the agency's determination was erroneous, arbitrary or capricious. Evidence submitted in support of the employee's claim did not convince GAO either that the determination of IRS was arbitrary or capricious or that the employee was required by unusual circumstances to spend additional amounts. Accordingly, the Claims Group determination was sustained.