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                            January 14, 1998
                            ________________
 
 
                            GSBCA 14230-RELO
 
 
                  In the Matter of RICHARD A. SANTILLO
 
 
        Richard A. Santillo, Stella, NC, Claimant.
 
        D.   Lisenby,   Director,  Financial   Policy   and  Systems
   Directorate, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Kansas City,
   MO, appearing for Department of Defense.
 
   VERGILIO, Board Judge.
 
        The  claimant, Richard A. Santillo, seeks reimbursement of a
   tax  service fee  and  a  contractor referral  fee  (paid by  the
   claimant to a realty company to bring the claimant and builder of
   the  new  home together)  incurred in  purchasing a  residence in
   connection with  a  permanent  change  of station.    The  agency
   properly disallowed reimbursement.  The tax service fee is a non-
   reimbursable  finance charge.    Joint Travel  Regulations  (JTR)
   C14002-A.4.b(5) (fees determined to be part of the finance charge
   are not reimbursable); Floyd L. Craft, GSBCA 13698-RELO, 97-2 BCA
     29,092 (buyer's tax service fee is not reimbursable because  it
   is part of a lender's finance  charge).  The referral fee is  not
   reimbursable  because  it   is  a  broker  fee   or  real  estate
   commission.     JTR  C14002-A.1  (broker  fees  and  real  estate
   commissions  are not reimbursable in connection with the purchase
   of a home at the new duty station).
 
 
 
                                 ____________________________
                                 JOSEPH A. VERGILIO
                                 Board Judge