Claim for Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested a decision on an employee's claim for reimbursement of a fee imposed by the State of Vermont incident to the purchase of a residence at his new duty station. USDA believed that the fee was nonreimbursable because it was a finance charge. The fee was charged to the employee's lending institution and passed on to him. GAO agreed that the fee was a finance charge, and therefore, was not reimbursable. Accordingly, the claim was not allowed.