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B-201809 1 (1981-05-08)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadvhx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ETHE COMPTROLLER.-• GE NERL L DECISIONI d. OF .THEUNITE- 0 TATEB . SHINGTON. 0C. 20548 FILE: B'201809 DATE:. May 8, 1981 MATTER QF:- RelocationExpenses - Membership-Fee, Cooperative. Home . DIGEST: Employee may not be- reimbursed a cooperative home membership-fee'required on purchase of home at new duty.station. *Such fees are personal and. outside the scope.o.f costs o-r expenses allowable as relocation expenses Under the Federal Travel. Regulations. .The-issue presented in this case. upon, a request of .an authorized certifying officer of the Department of Agriculture,.is whether .a membership fee required to be paid on the purchase of a home in.a cooperative home .development is reimbursable, as a relocation expense. The answer is no., an employee .of.the. Depart- ment of Agriculture's Soil.Conservation*Service, was authorized a permanent change of station from'Portland, Oregon, to Washington,.D.C. In connection with his transfer he purchased a cooperative home for which-he was required to-pay a membership fee of -$300 to the developer at the time of.purchase. This membership fee ig a one-time fee, nonrefundable and nontransfer-able if. and when sells his interest in the property.. Pursuant to 5. U.S.C..§ 5724a '.1976), paragraph 2-6.2 f the Federal Travel Regulations.(FPMR 101-7, May 1973) provides for-reimbursement of certain expenses. incurred by employees in connection with residence.: transactions. Membership fees such as.paid are not-included-as reimbursable expenses under those regulations. Instead, membership fees in condominium or cooperatively owned homes or apartments are regarded as items of added value continuing to benefit the pur- chaser. As such, they.are considered a part of the .purchase price and not a part of the cost or expenses of purchasing. In the circumstances where a membership fee is transferable, we have held that the' expenses of selling such membership is reimbursable. -See B3-83812, . May 4, 1976. However, the cost of a'membership is considered a personal ex pense of the employee and not. reimbursa;1e. B-200082,KFebruary 25, 1981. Compare B-171808,\March 21, 1971, for membership.fees in non- real.estate type organizations. pUB•SHED DECISION 60.Comp. .n

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