302-5.103—What factors must we consider in determining whether to offer an employee the fixed amount househunting trip subsistence expense reimbursement option?

You must consider the following factors:
(a) Ease of administration. Payment of a per diem allowance under part 302-4 of this chapter requires you to review claims for the validity, accuracy, and reasonableness of each expense amount, except for meals and incidental expenses. Fixed amount househunting trip subsistence expenses reimbursement is easier to administer because you do not have to review expense amounts.
(b) Cost considerations. You must weigh the cost of each reimbursement option on a case-by-case basis.
(c) Treatment of employees. The employee is allowed to choose between a per diem allowance under part 302-4 of this chapter and fixed amount househunting trip subsistence expenses reimbursement when you offer the fixed amount reimbursement method. You therefore should weigh employee morale and productivity considerations against actual cost considerations in determining which method to offer.

Code of Federal Regulations

§ 302-5.103 , Nt.

Code of Federal Regulations

Effective Date Note: By FTR Amdt. 2011-01, 76 FR 18337 and 18338, Apr. 1, 2011, § 302-5.103 was redesignated as § 302-5.104; a new § 302-5.103 was added; and the newly redesignated § 302-5.104 was amended by removing the words “Fixed amount” and adding the words “Lump sum” in their place in paragraph (a) and by removing the words “fixed amount” and adding the words “lump sum” in their place each time they appear, effective Aug. 1, 2011. For the convenience of the user, the added text is set forth as follows:
Code of Federal Regulations 165
§ 302-5.103 What modes of transportation may we authorize for a househunting trip? (a) When the new official station is less than 250 miles from the old official station, the required mode of transportation is POV, unless there are reasons for not using a POV that are acceptable to the you (e.g., traveler is physically impaired, does not own or lease a POV, has only one POV which is used for family transportation, or the POV is not roadworthy for such a trip). Reimbursement for POV mileage is at the rate prescribed in § 302-4.300 of this subchapter. (b) When the new official station is 250 miles or more from the old official station, the preferred mode of transportation is common carrier. However, you may authorize the use of POV for a househunting trip longer than 250 miles, provided you complete a written cost comparison in accordance with § 302-5.14(b) .