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Finance

HANDBOOK REVISION

Handbook F-15 Revision, Part 3 Relocation (Non-bargaining only)

Effective July 1, 2005, Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation, is revised with new reimbursement policy and procedures for advance round trip for finding, temporary quarters at the new duty station, and the return trip to old residence, for non-bargaining (non-executive) employees. Selected elements of the Purchase Service program are also revised.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed edition of Handbook F-15 and into the next online update available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site.

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

• Then click on HBKs.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)

Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation

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Part 3, Relocation (Non-bargaining only)

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Policies and Procedures

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Finding a Place to Live

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Reimbursable Expenses While Traveling on Your Advance Round Trip

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ALL NON EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES, THEIR SPOUSE, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS

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See Lump Sum.

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Temporary Quarters

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What's Allowed

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Employee Group What's Allowed
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Non-executive employees See Lump Sum.

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Occupying Temporary Quarters in More Than One Location

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[Delete the title and text of the EAS Employees section.]

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Reimbursable Expenses

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[In the table, delete the first row.]

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[Delete the title and text of the "Limitation of Reimbursement" section.]

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Return Trips to Your Former Residence

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Employee Group Number of Trips Allowed How This Affects Your Temporary Quarters Time Period
[Replace the first row of the table with the following text:] [Replace the first row of the table with the following text:] [Replace the first row of the table with the following text:]
Non-executive employees See Lump Sum.

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[At the end of the "Return Trips to Your Former Residence" section, insert the new section on Lump Sum to read as follows:]

Lump Sum

Non-bargaining (non-executive) employees will receive a lump-sum payment, which replaces the current requirement to submit itemized expense reports for travel, lodging, per diem, and other expenses related to relocation for any advance round trip taken by the employee or immediate family to the new duty station, any temporary quarters required, and the return trip to the old residence.

The lump sum payment is an industry best practice and considers your family composition, whether you rent or own your at the old duty station, and your relocation destination. The lump sum eliminates the necessity for you to submit receipts to support expense reports, and allows efficient access to funds to cover travel expenses. Payment will be made when requested through the RMF Online Expense Report program. Components used in the lump-sum calculation are:

Components of Lump Sum Days/Trips Cost Source
Lodging, per diem and child care
Temporary quarters lodging and per diem 60* 100% of the General Services Administration (GSA) rate for the new duty station *(30 days if renting at old duty station).
Employee - advance round trip lodging 7 100% of the GSA rate for the new duty station.
Employee - advance round trip per diem 8 100% of the GSA rate for the new duty station.
Dependent 8 blank
Advance round trip child care days for children under 17 8 $50 per child / maximum of $150 per day.
Advance round trip airfare/mileage
Employee airfare round trip if 250 miles or more one way 1 GSA city pair (if no city pair is available, commercial rate).
Dependent 1 blank
Advance round trip car rental days (with airfare only) 8 Government/military contract rate.
Less than 250 miles one way blank Current federal rate x round trip mileage plus 100 miles.
Return trip airfare/mileage
Airfare round trip, if 250 miles or more one way 1 GSA city pair (if no city pair is available, commercial rate).
Less than 250 miles one way blank Current federal rate x round trip mileage.

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Buying and Selling a

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Purchasing Service

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Using RMF Services

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Services Provided

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Eligibility

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Employee Group Eligibility Details Criteria for Selling a
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Non-executive employees You are eligible to use RMF services for buying and selling a if you are any of the following non-executive employees:
• EAS employee grade level 19 and above.
• Inspection Service employee grade level 17 and above.
• The distance between your new permanent duty station and your former residence meets the 50-mile requirement.
• You have an approved PS Form 178, Specific Travel Order - Relocation and Relocation Agreement.
If you are eligible to use RMF services for buying your at the old duty station, you are eligible for a sale incentive of up to 2% of the purchase price not to exceed $5,000.
EAS and Inspection Service employees at any grade level are eligible to use the RMF finding service for assistance in finding a new .
If you are selling a , you must meet all of the following criteria:
• The title to your residence must comply with the conditions stated in Eligibility under Not Using RMF Services, located in this guide.
• The distance between your former residence and the new permanent duty station must be at least 70 miles.
• If selling your residence, it must be appraised at no less than $50,000 and must be located on no more than five acres (an exception can be made for up to 10 acres if it is determined that the lot size is required by a zoning law, covenant, and is common for the area). The $50,000 criterion is governed by the appraisal done by an independent appraiser that you choose from a list provided by the RMF.
• Must have the on the market when the purchase process is initiated and must remain on the market until an outside sale is made.
• Outbuildings other than garages are excluded (an exception can be made if the type of outbuilding is customary to the area with the understanding that the employee will be liable for all of the following:
(1) Expenses incurred for any additional inspections and/or appraisal required on the additional building as determined by the RMF.
(2) Any expenses for required repairs as a result of these inspections.
(3) The repairs must be completed prior to the RMF purchasing the .

—National Accounting, Finance, 7-21-05


NOTICE

Local Tax Code Information

The Postal ServiceTM collects appropriate federal, state, and in some cases, local taxes directly from the pay of our employees who are subject to these deductions. Based on agreements between individual local taxation authorities and the United States Treasury Department, the Postal Service collects a number of occupational license taxes, city and/or county income taxes, revenue taxes, senior citizen taxes, mental health taxes, residence taxes, or, in some locations, two of these taxes. This updated Local Tax Code (LTC) listing adds a number of additional tax collection locations, and indicates the type(s) of taxes collected directly from our employees via payroll deduction procedures.

Some of the taxes shown below are automatically deducted from the salaries of Postal Service employees who live or work within the geographic boundaries of specific taxing authorities. However, most of these taxes have not been established as automatic deductions. If you are subject to any of these local taxes, you must be proactive and complete and submit the proper taxation paperwork. Frequent contact between the Postal Service, the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and these taxing authorities indicates that many employees are not having the appropriate amounts withheld from their pay. You are reminded that, as a Postal Service employee, you are personally responsible for ensuring that the correct local taxes are deducted from your pay.

All Postal Service employees are reminded that they are bound by the materials contained within the Code of Ethics, Principles of Ethical Conduct for Government Officers and Employees. This includes Principle 12 which states: "An employee shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those - such as federal, state, or local taxes - that are imposed by law."

If you live or work in a locality that is subject to one (or more) of the taxes listed below and the correct deduction(s) is not being assessed from your pay, you should immediately complete a Form PS 4, Employee's City or County Withholding Certificate. After completing these forms, forward them to the appropriate Personnel Office for entry into your master file.

State and City or County Type of Tax Local Tax Code
Alabama
Bessemer Occupational Tax 081
Birmingham Occupational Tax 084
Gasden Occupational Tax 094
Jefferson County Occupational Tax 085
Macon County Occupational Tax 096
Colorado
Aurora Occupational Tax 495
Denver Occupational Tax 294
Delaware
Wilmington City Income Tax 903
Indiana
Allen County County Income Tax 007
Kentucky
Bowling Green City Income Tax 215
Boone County 1. Occupational Tax 015
2. Senior Citizen and Mental Health Tax 016
Covington City Income Tax 252
Florence City Income Tax 836
Frankfort City Income Tax 292
Kenton County Occupational Tax 435
Lexington City/
Fayette County
City/County Income Tax 525
Louisville City/
Jefferson County
City/County Income Tax 546
Madison County County Income Tax 547
Owensboro City Income Tax 201
Richmond City Income Tax 735
Michigan
Battle Creek City Income Tax 063
Detroit City Income Tax 315
Flint City Income Tax 357
Grand Rapids City Income Tax 378
Lansing City Income Tax 483
Pontiac City Income Tax 693
Saginaw City Income Tax 756
Missouri
Kansas City City Income Tax 420
St. Louis City Income Tax 819
New York
New York City City Income Tax 588
Ohio
Akron City Income Tax 021
Brecksville City Income Tax 105
Brook Park City Income Tax 106
State and City or County Type of Tax Local Tax Code
Canton City Income Tax 126
Cincinnati City Income Tax 168
Cleveland City Income Tax 189
Columbus City Income Tax 231
Dayton City Income Tax 273
Fairview Park City Income Tax 274
Heath City Income Tax 399
Kettering City Income Tax 441
Mansfield City Income Tax 567
Newark City Income Tax 698
Oberlin City Income Tax 609
Sharonville City Income Tax 785
Springfield City Income Tax 798
Toledo City Income Tax 840
Whitehall City Income Tax 861
Youngstown City Income Tax 924
Oregon
Multnomah* County Residence Tax 406
* Scheduled to expire on 12-31-05
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem City Income Tax 335
Erie 1. City Income Tax 336
2. Emergency and Municipal Services (EMS) Tax 337
Greene Township City Income Tax 375
Hanover Township 1. City Income Tax 342
2. EMS Tax 343
Harrisburg 1. City Income Tax 385
2. EMS Tax 386
Horsham Township City Income Tax 354
Lancaster City Income Tax 462
Marshall Township EMS Tax 555
Middletown City Income Tax 388
Philadelphia City Income Tax 651
Pittsburgh 1. City Income Tax 672
2. EMS Tax 673
Reading 1. City Income Tax 714
2. EMS Tax 715
Scranton 1. City Income Tax 777
2. EMS Tax 778
Sunbury/Greg Township City Income Tax 320
Tinicum Township 1. City Income Tax 779
2. EMS Tax 780
Warminster Township 1. City Income Tax 856
2. EMS Tax 855
Wilkes-Barre 1. City Income Tax 882
2. EMS Tax 883
York City Income Tax 492
West Virginia
Charleston Occupational Tax 899
Huntington City Service Tax 900

—Payroll Accounting,
Finance, 7-21-05


STAND-UP TALK

Proper Completion of PS Form 8105-A, Funds Transaction Report

The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Compliance Office has received numerous questions about how to complete PS Form 8105-A, Funds Transaction Report, and the documentation that local offices may maintain. The following information is provided in response to those questions.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

Customers who wish to purchase money orders, Sure Money®, or stored value cards for $3,000 or more during the same business day must provide government-issued identification and a Social Security number or acceptable alternative as outlined below. The following identifications are acceptable replacements for a Social Security number:

1. Passport number - the country of issuance must also be entered.

2. Alien registration number.

3. Military ID number.

4. Employer identification number (EIN).

5. Tax identification number (TIN).

No other forms of identification can be used in lieu of a Social Security number.

The following are acceptable forms of government- issued photo identification:

1. State-issued identification - driver's license or photo-ID card.

2. Matricula consular identification card issued by the government of Mexico.

3. Visa border-crossing identification card issued by the United States government.

4. Tribal Identification cards, which are issued by Indian tribes throughout the United States.

Except for passports and matricula consular cards, no photo identification from other countries may be accepted.

Documentation at Local Offices

For privacy reasons, copies of completed PS Form 8105-A and PS Form 8105-B, Suspicious Transaction Report, must not be maintained at local offices. If local offices wish to maintain documentation of completed forms, they may maintain a log of applicable transactions (see page 10 in this Postal Bulletin).

If an office believes that a PS Form 8105-A that it completed was not entered into the BSA database, the office may send an e-mail message to the BSA Compliance Office at bsa@usps.gov to report the omission. The following information relating to the transaction must be sent in the e-mail message:

1. Inclusive serial numbers of the transaction, as follows:

a. Beginning serial number.

b. Ending serial number.

2. Customer's last name.

3. Transaction date.

4. Transaction amount.

5. Office Finance number or unit ID.

6. Office telephone number.

The BSA Compliance Office will research and, if appropriate, update the BSA database to indicate that the required PS Form 8105-A was completed.

Any questions regarding the proper completion of PS Form 8105-A can be directed to the BSA Compliance Office at 202-268-6804 or via e-mail to bsa@usps.gov.

—Corporate Treasury,
Finance, 7-21-05

PS Form 8105-A Tracking Log

(Area Name) PS Form 8105-A Tracking Log
Reporting Office-Name, ZIP Code, Finance#/Unit ID) blank
Clerk ID Customer Name Money Order Range Transaction
Date
Transaction
Amount
Begin Serial # End Serial #