MARADMINS : 712/12
R 131439Z DEC 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 712/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PR//
SUBJ/HOTEL LODGING TAX AND ATM WITHDRAWAL COST REDUCTIONS//
REF/A/DEPSECDEF MEMO DATED DEC 29 2011//
REF/B/DODFMR VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 3//
REF/C/JFTR//
REF/D/JTR//
NARR/ REF A IS THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO PROMOTING EFFICIENT SPENDING TO SUPPORT AGENCY OPERATIONS. REF B IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION VOLUME 9, GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CHARGE CARD (GTCC). REF C IS THE JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS, VOLUME 1. REF D IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, VOLUME 2.//
POC FOR GTCC/KENNEY, JOHN/MSGT/HQMC-RFF/TEL: 703-614-3517(DSN 224)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE TRAVEL COSTS AS REQUIRED BY REFERENCE A THIS MESSAGE DIRECTS ALL TRAVELERS TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CLAIM LODGING TAX EXEMPTION FROM COMMERCIAL LODGING FACILITIES WHILE ON OFFICIAL ORDERS. ADDITIONALLY, TRAVELERS SHALL MINIMIZE CASH ADVANCE WITHDRAWALS FROM AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES (ATM) WHEN USING THE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CHARGE CARD (GTCC).
2. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2011 THE MARINE CORPS REIMBURSED 9.9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR HOTEL LODGING TAXES AND NEARLY 500,000 DOLLARS FOR ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES. THESE EXPENSES ARE OFTEN AVOIDABLE AND CAN STRETCH ALREADY LIMITED RESOURCES VITAL FOR THE COMMANDERS' OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
3. ALL TRAVELERS SHALL REQUEST A LODGING TAX EXEMPTION WHEN TAD. CERTAIN STATES REQUIRE A FORM FOR THIS EXEMPTION AS OUTLINED IN THE GSA OFFICE OF CHARGE CARD MANAGEMENT WESITE (HTTPS:SMARTPAY.GSA.GOV/ABOUT-GSA-SMARTPAY/TAX-INFORMATION). IF A LODGING ESTABLISHMENT REFUSES TO ACCEPT A TAX EXEMPTION FORM, THE TAX CHARGED IN CONUS AND NON-FOREIGN OCONUS COMMERCIAL LODGING FACILITIES SHOULD BE A SEPARATE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSE PER REFERENCES C AND D.
4. GSA CONTINUALLY WORKS WITH STATES TO EXPAND THE GTCC IBA TAX EXEMPTION. TRAVELERS SHOULD VISIT THE WEBSITE BELOW PRIOR TO TRAVEL TO UNDERSTAND THE LATEST REQUIREMENTS. DETAILED TAX INFORMATION AND TAX EXEMPTION FORMS FOR PARTICIPATING STATES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE GSA OFFICE OF CHARGE CARD MANAGEMENT WEBSITE AT (HTTPS:SMARTPAY.GSA.GOV/ABOUT-GSA-SMARTPAY/TAX-INFORMATION).
5. ADDITIONALLY, ALL TRAVELERS WITH A GTCC ACCOUNT SHALL USE THE GTCC FOR ALL OFFICIAL TRAVEL RELATED EXPENSES AS REQUIRED BY REF B. USING THE GTCC WHERE ACCEPTED GREATLY REDUCES THE NEED FOR ATM WITHDRAWALS AND THE ASSOCIATED ATM EXPENSES. WITH VISA CARDS BEING ACCEPTED WORLD-WIDE THERE SHOULD BE VERY LITTLE REQUIREMENT FOR ATM WITHDRAWALS.
6. VOUCHER REVIEWING AND APPROVING OFFICIALS SHALL REVIEW TRAVEL VOUCHERS TO ENSURE TRAVELERS ARE ADHERING TO THESE REQUIREMENTS AND REFER ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE COMMANDER FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION.
7. REQUEST WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF THIS INFORMATION.
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN J. E. WISSLER, DEPUTY COMMANDANT, PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.//