Skip to main content

Claim for Relocation Expenses

B-194741 Feb 19, 1981
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

An authorized certifying officer of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested a decision on a voucher submitted by an employee for relocation expenses incident to a transfer from Mexico to the United States. The employee claimed reimbursement for temporary quarters subsistence expenses and miscellaneous expenses. USDA allowed payment of the vouchers. However, the agency subsequently determined that such payments, pursuant to the Federal Travel Regulations, were erroneous because the employee had been reimbursed under the Foreign Service Travel Regulations incident to his transfer to Mexico. GAO has held that, where an agency has transferred an employee to a foreign duty station under the Foreign Service Travel Regulations, the employee is not entitled to reimbursement of relocation expenses under the Federal Travel Regulations incident to his return to the United States. USDA asked whether it could waive the employee's indebtedness resulting from the overpayment. Under the applicable statute, the authority to waive the repayment of erroneous overpayments is specifically limited to payments of salary or allowances other than travel and transportation expenses and allowances and relocation expenses. Therefore, USDA has no authority to waive the employee's indebtedness. The erroneous payments for temporary quarters subsistence expenses and the miscellaneous expenses allowance are properly for collection from the employee.

Downloads

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs