B-178534, JUN 21, 1973
Highlights
YOUR DOUBT IN THE MATTER IS CAUSED BY THE INABILITY OF THE EMPLOYEE TO SUPPLY A RECEIPT OR A PASSENGER'S COPY OF THE AIRLINE TICKET FROM WASHINGTON TO SEATTLE AS EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF THE CLAIM ON THE VOUCHER PRESENTED. THE EMPLOYEE HAS SUPPLIED A NOTARIZED STATEMENT THAT HER PASSENGER'S COPY OF THE TICKET RECEIVED AT THE TIME TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED HAS BEEN LOST AND THAT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONFIRM HER STATEMENT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FILE INCLUDES A MEMORANDUM TO THE EMPLOYEE STATING THAT: "REGULATIONS PROHIBIT US FROM REIMBURSING A TRAVELER UNLESS A PAID RECEIPT IS PROVIDED.". WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR AGENCY'S INTERNAL REGULATIONS.
B-178534, JUN 21, 1973
CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $159 PRESENTED BY MS. IRENE K. ENOMOTO, REPRESENTING A PAYMENT IN CASH FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION FROM WASHINGTON D.C., TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A SEGMENT OF TRAVEL PERFORMED INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF OFFICIAL STATION FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO HONOLULU, HAWAII, IN SEPTEMBER 1972. SUFFICIENT COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS FOUND TO ALLOW PAYMENT OF THE CLAIM.
TO MR. DONALD E. MULDOON:
THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 24, 1973, REQUESTING OUR DECISION AS TO THE LEGALITY OF PAYMENT OF A CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF $159 PRESENTED BY MS. IRENE K. ENOMOTO. THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION REPRESENTS A PAYMENT IN CASH FOR AIR TRANSPORTATION FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A SEGMENT OF TRAVEL PERFORMED INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF OFFICIAL STATION FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO HONOLULU, HAWAII, IN SEPTEMBER 1972.
YOUR DOUBT IN THE MATTER IS CAUSED BY THE INABILITY OF THE EMPLOYEE TO SUPPLY A RECEIPT OR A PASSENGER'S COPY OF THE AIRLINE TICKET FROM WASHINGTON TO SEATTLE AS EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF THE CLAIM ON THE VOUCHER PRESENTED. THE EMPLOYEE HAS SUPPLIED A NOTARIZED STATEMENT THAT HER PASSENGER'S COPY OF THE TICKET RECEIVED AT THE TIME TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED HAS BEEN LOST AND THAT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONFIRM HER STATEMENT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FILE INCLUDES A MEMORANDUM TO THE EMPLOYEE STATING THAT: "REGULATIONS PROHIBIT US FROM REIMBURSING A TRAVELER UNLESS A PAID RECEIPT IS PROVIDED."
WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR AGENCY'S INTERNAL REGULATIONS. HOWEVER, WE CALL ATTENTION TO SUBSECTION 11.5C(3) OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-7 (SGTR), WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
(3) CASH PAYMENT FOR COMMON CARRIER FARE. WHERE CLAIM IS MADE FOR COMMON CARRIER TRANSPORTATION OBTAINED WITH CASH, THE TRAVEL VOUCHER MUST SHOW THE AMOUNT SPENT, INCLUDING FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TAX, AND THE MODE AND CLASS OF TRANSPORTATION USED.
WE FIND NO REQUIREMENT IN THE SGTR FOR ATTACHMENT TO A VOUCHER OF A RECEIPT FOR CASH PAYMENT FOR AIRLINE FARES UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF TRAVEL HERE DESCRIBED. IN THIS CONNECTION, SEE 17 COMP. GEN. 549 (1938).
WE BELIEVE THE STATEMENT SUPPLIED BY THE EMPLOYEE AND HER CERTIFICATION OF THE VOUCHER CONSTITUTE SUFFICIENT COMPLIANCE WITH THE SGTR TO ALLOW PAYMENT OF THE CLAIM, IF OTHERWISE PROPER.
THE CORRESPONDENCE TRANSMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER IS RETURNED.