94-1344. Waiver of Claims for Erroneous Payments  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-1344]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: January 20, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
    [Treasury Directive Number: 34-01]
    
     
    
    Waiver of Claims for Erroneous Payments
    
        Dates: January 6, 1994.
    
        1. Purpose. This Directive delegates authority to waive claims of 
    the Government against an employee for erroneous payments of pay and 
    allowances, and erroneous payments of travel, transportation, and 
    relocation expenses and allowances.
        2. Scope. This directive applies to all bureaus, the Departmental 
    Offices (DO), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
        3. Policy. It is the policy of the Department of the Treasury that 
    standards and procedures for granting waiver of claims to an employee 
    for erroneous payments of pay and allowances, and erroneous payments of 
    travel, transportation, and relocation expenses and allowances, 
    pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5584 and 4 CFR parts 91 and 92, shall be in 
    compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.
        4. Background.
        a. 5 U.S.C. 5584, as amended, authorizes the waiver, in certain 
    instances, of claims due to the United States by an employee for 
    erroneous payments of pay and allowances, and erroneous payments of 
    travel, transportation, and relocation expenses and allowances.
        b. Public Law (Pub. L.) 102-190 (1991) amended 5 U.S.C. 5584 to 
    increase from $500 to $1,500 the amount of a claim that an agency may 
    waive under that statute. The General Accounting Office (GAO) published 
    a final rule at 56 FR 67467 (1991) which revised the GAO waiver 
    regulations at 4 CFR parts 91 and 92 accordingly. The head of an 
    agency, or the designated official, now has the authority for granting 
    waiver of claims in the aggregated amount of not more than $1,500. Page 
    2 TD 34-01
        c. Waiver of a claim in the aggregated amount of more than $1,500 
    shall be submitted to GAO for a consideration.
        5. Delegation. This Directive authorizes the Deputy Assistant 
    Secretary (Administration), the heads of bureaus, and the Inspector 
    General to perform the following functions for their respective 
    organizations.
        a. Waive, in whole or in part, a claim of the United States against 
    an employee arising out of an erroneous payment of pay and allowances, 
    for an erroneous payment of travel, transportation, and relocation 
    expenses and allowances, aggregating not more than $1,500, in 
    accordance with the limitations and standards set forth in 5 U.S.C. 
    5584, and the regulations of the Comptroller General in 4 CFR parts 91 
    and 92.
        b. Deny requests for waivers in any amount. If a request for waiver 
    is denied, the employee from whom collection is sought must be advised 
    of the right to appeal the denial to GAO pursuant to the procedures in 
    4 CFR part 92.
        c. Refer a report or investigation to the Comptroller General for a 
    determination, where appropriate under the applicable regulations. Such 
    referrals shall be governed by this directive, rather than the 
    procedures of Treasury Directive (TD) 32-09, ``Correspondence with the 
    General Accounting Office.''
        6. Redelegation. The Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration), 
    the heads of bureaus, and the Inspector General may delegate this 
    authority, in writing, to a deputy or assistant bureau head, or to 
    Bureau Chief Financial Officer or equivalent.
        7. Responsibilities. The Deputy Assistant Secretary 
    (Administration), the heads of bureaus, the Inspector General, their 
    deputy or assistant, or the Bureau Chief Financial Officer or 
    equivalent, for their respective organizations, shall:
        a. Promptly notify an employee upon discovery of an erroneous 
    payment to that employee;
        b. Compile the written report described in 4 CFR 92.3;
        c. Notify the employee, in writing, of the disposition of a request 
    for waiver and any right to appeal, as required by 4 CFR 92.4;
        d. Pay a refund when appropriate if a waiver is granted; and
        e. Fulfill any other responsibility of the agency imposed by 5 
    U.S.C. 5584 or 4 CFR Parts 91 and 92, or other applicable laws or 
    regulations.
        8. Reporting Requirements.
        a. The Department is not required to submit an annual written 
    report to GAO. However, the Department still is required to maintain a 
    register of waiver actions, subject to GAO review. In addition, each 
    bureau is required to retain the written record of each waiver action 
    for 6 years and 3 months. The written record is defined at 4 CFR 92.7.
        b. Treasury bureaus are required to submit an annual waiver of 
    claims report for the fiscal year ending September 30 to the 
    Department's Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO) not later than 
    December 31 of each year. The Deputy CFO will issue a call letter and 
    the report format to the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Administration) 
    and Bureau CFOs.
        c. The bureau annual waiver of claims report shall contain the 
    following information.
        (1) The total amount waived by the bureau.
        (2) The number and dollar amount of waiver applications granted in 
    full.
        (3) The number and dollar amount of waiver applications granted in 
    part and denied in part.
        (4) The number and dollar amount of waiver applications denied in 
    their entirety.
        (5) The number of waiver applications referred to the GAO for 
    action.
        (6) The dollar amount refunded as a result of waiver action by the 
    bureau.
        (7) The dollar amount refunded as a result of waiver action by the 
    GAO.
        9. Cancellations. The following directives have been superseded.
        a. TD 12-01, ``Waiver of Claims for Erroneous Payment,'' dated 
    February 13, 1989, is superseded.
        b. TD 34-01, ``Debt Claims Due the Department of the Treasury,'' 
    dated December 15, 1980, is superseded.
        10. Authorities.
        a. 5 U.S.C. 5584, as amended, ``Claims for Overpayment of Pay and 
    Allowances, and of Travel, Transportation and Relocation Expenses and 
    Allowances.''
        b. 4 CFR Part 91, ``Standards for Waiver.''
        c. 4 CFR Part 92, ``Procedure.''
        d. GAO Title 4, ``Claims,'' GAO Policy and Procedures Manual for 
    Guidance of Federal Agencies.
        11. Office of Primary Interest. Office of Accounting and Internal 
    Control, Office of the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Office of the 
    Assistant Secretary (Management)/Chief Financial Officer.
    George Munoz,
    Assistant Secretary (Management)/Chief Financial Officer.
    [FR Doc. 94-1344 Filed 1-19-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4810-25-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/20/1994
Department:
Treasury Department
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-1344
Dates:
January 6, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: January 20, 1994, Treasury Directive Number: 34-01