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B-204015 1 (1981-09-18)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadjst0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 




DECISIO


THE            OLL      GE
OF THE UNITED 8
WASHINGTON. D.C.


ENERAL
TAT E 8
20548


FILE:    B-204015


DATE:


September 18,


1981


MATTER OF:      Donald L. Turley


.DIGEST:


IRS employee requests reimbursement of $630 fee
charged at settlement claiming the same-represents
closing costs. Truth-in-lending statement given
at settlement indicates that the $630 loan closing
fee was a prepaid finance charge. Reimbursement is
proscribed by FTR para. 2-6.2d, which prohibits
reimbursement of all costs found to be a finance
charge under Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. 226.4(2).


     By a letter dated July 8, 1981, Ms. Virginia G. Leist, an
authorized certifying officer with the Internal Revenue Service,
requested an advance decision on the reclaim of Mr. Donald L.
Turley for certain expenses incurred incident to the purchase
of a residence upon change of duty station.

     The record shows that Mr. Turley was transferred from
Washington, D.C., to Covington, Kentucky. He purchased a resi-
dence at his new duty station. In reimbursing Mr. Turley for
expenses incurred in connection with that real estate transaction,
the certifying officer deducted the $630 amount charged by the
lender as a loan origination fee. It is Mr. Turley's contention
that no loan origination fee may be charged in connection with a
Veterans Administration (VA) secured loan and that the $630 amount
in question, therefore. is a reimbursable item of real estate
expense.

     Reimbursement of a transferred Federal employee's relocation
expenses is governed by chapter 2 of the Federal Travel Regula-
tions (FTR) (FPMR 101-7, May 1973). Part 6 of chapter 2 covers
residence transactions. FTR para. 2-6.2d specifically precludes
reimbursement of any fee, cost, charge, or expense which is
determined to be a finance charge under Title I of the Truth-in-
Lending Act, Public Law 90-321, and Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. 226.4,
issued pursuant thereto. We have consistently held that a fee in
the nature of a loan origination fee is a finance charge within the
meaning of 12 C.F.R. 226.4(a)(3). B-186312, December 21, 1976.

     Contrary to Mr. Turley's understanding, the VA does permit a
lender to charge a loan origination fee not exceeding 1 percent of
the amount of the loan on VA secured loans. See 38 C.F.R. 36.4312(d)(2).
The settlement statement given Mr. Turley at closing lists the $630





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