[Appeal of IRS Employee's Claim for Travel Costs]

An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee appealed the Claims Group's denial of his claim for reimbursement for travel expenses. The claimant, unaware of the general prohibition on the use of travel agents at the time he traveled, purchased an airline ticket for official travel through a travel agent. GAO held that IRS could reimburse the claimant because he: (1) provided sufficient proof of the expenditure; (2) reasonably assumed that it was permissible for him to use the travel agent; and (3) saved money over the standard commercial airline fare. Accordingly, the Claims Group's settlement was overruled and the claim was allowed.