rose2010 Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 Does someone have experience with approving Bank charges as an allowable cost under FAR 31.201-2 I have been asked to approves such charges for some STTA and LTTA personal and was wondering if this is an allowable cost and if so how would you justify this? I have not found any direct reference in FAR 31.201-2. The personal traveling overseas incur bank charges when they withdraw cash or use their credit cards to pay a hotel bill. These charges usually amount to around $50 total. The cost are basically work-related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here_2_help Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 Rose2010, Are these charges for currency conversion, or just the normal ATM charges? If the former, I usually claim them as allowable; if the latter I usually do not claim them as they are more in the nature of personal expenses. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose2010 Posted August 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 The are for both. Thanks this does help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old-Dog Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 According to the FTR Chapter 301-12.1 transaction fees for use ATMs are allowable. The Far requires compliance with the FTR for related travel expenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here_2_help Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 Hi George_wickersham, I agree with you that FTR Chapter 301-12.1 states that transaction fees for ATM use are reimbursable. But that's as far as I can go. Consider, if you will, 1. The Travel Cost Principle at 31.205-46 does NOT "require compliance with the FTR for related travel expenses". Instead, it states that the FTR lodging and M&IE ceilings establish amounts considered to be reasonable for contractor employee travel reimbursement. 2. 31.205-46(a)(4) specifically limits the parts of the FTR that are applicable to contractors. 301-12.1 is not among the FTR sections made applicable to contractor travel by the FAR. 3. Even if 301-12.1 were made applicable by the FAR, it would not be applicable to TDY travel reimbursement. 301-12.1 pertains to reimbursable expenses related to Federal employee Income Tax Reimbursement Allowance (ITRA) -- which is associated with a long-term assignment to a single duty station, and NOT to TDY travel. Thus, in my view, you cannot support the allowability of contractor employee ATM transactions fees by citation to FTR 301-12.1, at least for routine TDY-type travel. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retreadfed Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 If the TDY is in a foreign country, the FTR would not apply,but the DSSR would be the applicable regulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here_2_help Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Retreadfed, Yep. FTR, JTR, DSSR. As applicable. H2H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose2010 Posted August 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Thank you all- this is very helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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