B-166425, APR. 15, 1969

B-166425, APR. 15, 1969

TO MISS MILDRED J. KELL:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 24, 1969, YOUR REFERENCE ADFF:LM, BY WHICH YOU REQUEST OUR ADVANCE DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY PROPERLY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THE ENCLOSED VOUCHER OF MR. HAROLD L. BEST, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TO REIMBURSE HIM THE MORTGAGE ORIGINATION FEE HE PAID IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE AT HIS NEW OFFICIAL STATION.

INCIDENT TO HIS TRANSFER FROM MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE JUNE 16, 1968, MR. BEST HAS CLAIMED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES HE INCURRED IN THE PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE IN THE VICINITY OF NASHVILLE. HE WAS REQUIRED TO PAY A MORTGAGE ORIGINATION FEE OF ONE PERCENT OF THE LOAN AMOUNT IN CONNECTION WITH THAT PURCHASE AS WELL AS A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FEE OF 1/2 OF ONE PERCENT OF THE MORTGAGE AMOUNT. MR. BEST HAS BEEN PAID THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FEE AS AUTHORIZED IN THE DECISION B-164270, JUNE 12, 1968. 47 COMP. GEN. 727. PAYMENT OF THE MORTGAGE ORIGINATION FEE WAS NOT ALLOWED AND THE VOUCHER SUBMITTED IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THAT FEE.

THE CITED DECISION WAS NOT INTENDED TO PRECLUDE REIMBURSEMENT TO AN EMPLOYEE OF A MORTGAGE ORIGINATION FEE AS WELL AS A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FEE IF HE IS REQUIRED TO PAY BOTH SUCH FEES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE AND IF REIMBURSEMENT OF BOTH FEES IS OTHERWISE ALLOWABLE.

ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.