Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses and Mileage Incident to Permanent Change of Station

An employee of the Internal Revenue Service claimed reimbursement for expenses incident to a change of permanent station from Columbus, Ohio, to Cincinnati, Ohio. Four months prior to his transfer, the employee entered into a contract for construction of a home. Upon receiving notice of the transfer, he engaged an attorney to aid in the rescission of the construction contract and incurred expenses of $297. Since the reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with residence transactions is authorized by regulation, GAO held that the forfeiture of the employee's deposit in order to be released from the purchase contract and the attorney's fee were reimbursable. The employee also requested reimbursement for mileage expenses resulting from a truck to aid in moving to his new station. This expense was not allowed, however, since the travel was not official business.