Mileage Costs Between Residence and Official Station

The Army requested a decision as to whether an employee on official business should be reimbursed for mileage costs between his residence and official station on days where at least one night's lodging was required. The claim was for mileage for travel by his privately owned car on the day that he departed from his office on official trips and on the day that he returned from these trips. The amounts claimed did not exceed the taxi fare authorized for such travel. He contended that he would have claimed the mileage earlier had he known of any possible entitlement. His voucher was approved by an authorized approving officer. The Army acknowledged that this type of travel was authorized under the Joint Travel Regulations, but questioned whether the employee's failure to claim the expenses on his original travel voucher constituted a voluntary relinquishment of any right to entitlement. GAO has consistently held that an employee must bear the cost of transportation between his residence and his place of duty at his official station. However, on those days when travel is performed by the employee, such mileage expenses may be allowed in lieu of payment for use of a taxicab as provided in the regulations. It was held that failure to claim expenses immediately after travel was performed did not necessarily negate that claim. The only time limitation on such claims is the statutory limitation of 6 years from the date of the claim. Therefore, GAO held that the claimant's voucher could be certified for payment.