Board of Contract Appeals

                 General Services Administration

                      Washington, D.C. 20405







                          ______________



                          March 4, 2005

                          ______________





                         GSBCA 16562-RELO





                In the Matter of ROXANNA E. ZAMORA





     Roxanna E. Zamora, Bonaire, GA, Claimant.



     Michael R. Shutter, Chief, Civil Law Division, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate,

Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Department of the Air Force, Robins Air

Force Base, GA, appearing for Department of the Air Force.



DeGRAFF, Board Judge.



     In 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) transferred Roxanna E. Zamora from one

permanent duty station to another.  In connection with the transfer, Ms. Zamora purchased

a house at her new duty station and asked DoD to reimburse $4101 of her real estate purchase

expenses.  DoD reimbursed $3473 of Ms. Zamora's expenses, but did not reimburse either

$78 she paid for a tax service fee or $550 of the amount she claimed for the cost of an

appraisal.  Ms. Zamora asks us to review DoD's decision.



     According to the regulations in effect when Ms. Zamora reported to her new duty

station, DoD does not have the authority to reimburse a fee that is part of the finance charge

unless reimbursement is specifically authorized by the regulations.  A tax service fee is part

of the finance charge and reimbursement is not specifically authorized by the regulations. 

Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) C14002; Larry W. Poole, GSBCA 15730-RELO, 02-1 BCA 

 31,776.  DoD correctly decided it could not reimburse the $78 Ms. Zamora paid for the tax

service fee.  



     Ms. Zamora paid $425 for an appraisal, but listed this amount twice on her voucher

and claimed $850 for appraisal fees.  DoD correctly decided to consider only one of the

claims for $425 and to disallow the remaining claim for $425, because Ms. Zamora paid only

$425 for the appraisal.  In addition, DoD decided to disallow $125 of the amount

Ms. Zamora paid for the appraisal because DoD determined the normal and reasonable fee

for an appraisal at Ms. Zamora's new duty station is $300, which is $125 less than the $425

she paid.  According to the regulations, only the customary cost of an appraisal is

reimbursable.  JTR C14002.  Ms. Zamora has not refuted DoD's determination that the

normal and reasonable fee for an appraisal in her area is $300, so DoD properly disallowed

$125 of the $425 fee she paid for the appraisal.  DoD correctly decided to disallow a total of

$550 ($425 + $125) of the amount Ms. Zamora claimed for the cost of an appraisal.



     The claim is denied.









                                   ___________________________________

                                   MARTHA H. DeGRAFF

                                   Board Judge