TFM Bulletin Page

Bulletin No. 2006-09
Volume I

PDF File
(Click here tp download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Retention: July 31, 2007

To: Heads of Government Departments, Agencies, and Others Concerned

Subject: Intra-governmental Payment and Collection (IPAC) System - Treasury Account Symbol (TAS)/Business Event Type Code (BETC) Reporting

1. Purpose and General Policy

This Treasury Financial Manual (TFM) bulletin notifies Federal Program Agencies (FPAs) of current and upcoming reporting requirements for IPAC.

2. Authority

In accordance with 31 United States Code 3513, the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) must prepare reports that will inform the President, the Congress, and the public on the financial operations of the U.S. Government. These reports must include the financial information that the President requires. In addition, the head of each executive agency must give the Secretary reports and information on the agency's financial conditions and operations that the Secretary requires to prepare the reports.

3. Rescission

This bulletin rescinds TFM Volume I, Bulletin No. 2006-04.

4. Implementation Guidance

Since October 2003, IPAC has required that FPAs report the TAS for the sender side of an IPAC transaction. Effective August 1, 2006, IPAC will accept only those TASs that are valid and appropriate for use through IPAC. Most "F" accounts are not valid for use through IPAC. However, while Treasury continues to work with agencies to identify alternatives to using "F" accounts, agencies will be allowed to use valid "F" accounts in IPAC.

Effective immediately, Governmentwide Accounting (GWA) pilot agencies, with Agency Location Codes (ALCs) 20552002, 04000002, 20096500, and 20180031, originating an IPAC transaction must report valid and appropriate TASs/BETCs for the sender side of each IPAC transaction. IPAC will reject any pilot agency ALC transactions that do not contain a valid TAS/BETC combination. Also, trading partners who process IPAC transactions with pilot agency ALCs must report a valid IPAC TAS/BETC for the pilot ALCs on the receiver side of the transaction. A list of valid TASs and BETCs is available for download on the GWA Web site at http://www.fms.treas.gov/gwa.

Notice regarding proper use of adjustment BETCs. Currently, some FPAs use an adjustment BETC on original payment or collection IPAC transactions. FPAs must use adjustment BETCs only on valid adjustment transactions. Further, by the end of 2006, IPAC will reject any original payment and collection transactions using adjustment BETCs.

The Financial Management Service (FMS) recommends that FPAs establish Trading Partner Agreements (TPAs), as appropriate. When establishing TPAs, agencies should obtain the TASs, BETCs, and all other pertinent information needed to process an IPAC transaction. All TPAs should provide business rules sanctioned by the appropriate authority within each prospective agency. Neither the Department of the Treasury nor FMS is responsible for the execution of TPAs. The parties to the agreement must execute arbitration regarding TPA disputes/disagreements in a timely manner. FMS reserves the right to intercede if the Federal Government's fiscal responsibilities are at risk.

5. Guidance for Reporting to Treasury

FPAs will follow the IPAC procedures outlined in I TFM 6-4000 for billing/collection and payment of intragovernmental transactions.

6. Effective Date

This bulletin is effective immediately except as noted in paragraph 4 above.

7. Inquiries

Direct questions concerning this bulletin to:

GWA Customer Assistance Group
Governmentwide Accounting Modernization Project
Governmentwide Accounting
Financial Management Service
Department of the Treasury
3700 East-West Highway, Room 500D
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Telephone: (202) 874-8270
Fax: (202) 874-6170

Kenneth R. Papaj
Commissioner
Date: July 20, 2006