[Request for Decision Concerning SSA Payment of City Registration Fees]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) requested a decision on whether it should pay various city fines and fees for a field office alarm system. GAO held that SSA was not required to pay the fees and fines, since they were actually taxes the city imposed to defray the costs of services. Accordingly, the fines and fees should not be paid, and SSA should recover any payments it made to the city.