View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML

GSA RIN: 3090-AK31 Publication ID: Fall 2020 
Title: ●Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); FTR Case 2020-302-01, Taxes on Relocation Expenses, Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) Eligibility 
Abstract:

The General Services Administration is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) parts 300-3, 302-2, 302-3, 302- 12, 302-15, and 302-17 to extend eligibility for the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5724b, as amended by section 1114 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (Pub. L. 116-92). As background, Public Law 115-97, known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,” suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective January 1, 2018, for tax years 2018 through 2025, therefore making almost all relocation entitlements subject to additional tax liability. A WTA and RITA entitlement covers “substantially all” of the increased tax liability resulting from receipt of relocation expense reimbursements either paid directly or indirectly for the employee. However, prior to section 1114 of the FY 2020 NDAA, WTA and RITA allowances under 5 U.S.C. 5724b were available only to employees “transferred” in the interest of the Government from one official station or agency to another for permanent duty. Accordingly, this proposed rule updates the FTR to reflect the statutory expansion of eligibility for WTA and RITA to include, among others, individuals not previously eligible for WTA and RITA e.g., new appointees including political appointees, employees returning from an overseas assignment for the purpose of separation from Government service, Senior Executive Service employees eligible for “last move home” entitlements, and those assigned under the Government Employees Training Act. The proposed rule will also correct certain mandatory and discretionary relocation entitlements depending on an individual’s type of movement.



 

 
Agency: General Services Administration(GSA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 14192 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt 
CFR Citation: 41 CFR 300-3    41 CFR 302-2    41 CFR 302-3    41 CFR 302-12    41 CFR 302-15    41 CFR 302-17     (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.)
Legal Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c)    5 U.S.C. 5707    5 U.S.C. 5724b    5 U.S.C. 5738    5 U.S.C. 5741-5742    20 U.S.C. 905(a)    49 U.S.C. 40118    E.O. 11609, as amended    3 CFR 1971-1975 Comp., p 586    Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A–126, revised May 22, 1992   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  01/00/2021 
NPRM Comment Period End  03/00/2021 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: Federal 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: www.regulations.gov   Public Comment URL: www.regulations.gov  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Rick Miller
Program Analyst, Travel, Relocation, Mail & Transportation Division
General Services Administration
1800 F Street NW,
Washington, DC 20405
Phone:202 501-3822
Email: rodney.miller@gsa.gov