[Response to Request for Advance Decision Concerning Army Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses]

The Army requested an advance decision on whether it should reimburse a transferred employee for real estate expenses he incurred. GAO noted that: (1) at the time of the employee's transfer, his future wife and father-in-law purchased a house in which he lived after his marriage; and (2) the employee's father-in-law later orally transferred his interest in the house to the employee and his wife. GAO held that: (1) since the employee failed to provide evidence showing the distribution of interest in the property between his wife, father-in-law, and himself, the Army could reimburse him for only the combined interest he and his dependents held; and (2) the employee would have to submit further documentation for the Army to determine allowable reimbursement. Accordingly, the claim was denied.