B-138706, MAY 13, 1963

B-138706, MAY 13, 1963

TO HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES:

EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1963, ALL COLLECTIONS MADE BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, CLAIMS DIVISION, ON DEBTS, REFERRED AS BEING ADMINISTRATIVELY UNCOLLECTIBLE, INVOLVING APPROPRIATION OR FUND ACCOUNTS OTHER THAN TRUST OR DEPOSIT FUND ACCOUNTS WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE TREASURY BY THIS OFFICE AS MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS. AGENCIES WILL NOT BE INFORMED OF AMOUNTS COLLECTED ON DEBTS THAT INVOLVE SUCH APPROPRIATION OR FUND ACCOUNTS. COLLECTIONS APPLICABLE TO TRUST OR DEPOSIT FUND ACCOUNTS WILL BE DEPOSITED DIRECTLY INTO THE TREASURY BY THIS OFFICE WITH APPROPRIATE CREDIT TO THE APPLICABLE FUND. A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT INVOLVING A TRUST OR DEPOSIT FUND ACCOUNT WILL BE FURNISHED THE RECIPIENT AGENCY FOR ACCOUNTING CONTROL PURPOSES.

WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS DEPOSITED TO APPROPRIATION OR FUND ACCOUNTS DURING A YEAR DO NOT JUSTIFY THE ADDED COSTS INVOLVED IN THE NECESSARY IDENTIFICATION, SCHEDULING, AND RELATED BOOKKEEPING TRANSACTIONS IN THIS OFFICE OR IN THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. IN ADDITION, THE SMALL AMOUNTS COLLECTED WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE LITTLE REAL EFFECT ON THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION STRUCTURE OF A DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY, BECAUSE MOST COLLECTIONS ARE NOW ULTIMATELY DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF MERGED OR OTHERWISE OFFICIALLY CLOSED ACCOUNTS.

THIS CHANGE IN POLICY DOES NOT APPLY TO COLLECTIONS MADE BY THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF THIS OFFICE OF AMOUNTS OVERPAID FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. COLLECTIONS OF THIS TYPE WILL BE PROCESSED AS IN THE PAST.

THE POLICY STATED IN B-138706, DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 1960, IS MODIFIED ACCORDINGLY. THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE MANUAL FOR GUIDANCE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES WILL BE APPROPRIATELY REVISED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.