TFM Homepage| TFM Transmittal Letters| TFM Volume I Table of Contents

PDF Version
(Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

This Treasury Financial Manual (TFM) chapter consolidates existing guidance to Federal agencies on the requirements for using depositaries to hold public money. Federal agency financial personnel should share this guidance with program and procurement personnel throughout their agency.

Section 4110-Scope and Applicability

This guidance is being issued to ensure Federal agencies:

• Comply with all statutes regarding public money;
  
  
• Collateralize all public money;
  
  AND
  
  
• Report properly all public money held outside of the U.S. Treasury on all financial statements.

Section 4115-Authority

31 United States Code (U.S.C.) 321, 3302-3304, 3327, 3336; 12 U.S.C. 90, 265-266, 332, 391, 1434, 1452(d), 1464(k), 1767, 1789a, 2013, 2122, and 3101-3102; and 31 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 202 and 206 provide the authority for this chapter.

Section 4120-Guidance

Federal agencies receiving public money from any source are statutorily required to deposit these funds into the U.S. Treasury, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law. Consequently, Federal agencies may not hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury without specific statutory authority to do so. Federal agencies without specific statutory authority to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury must deposit all public money into an account in the name of the U.S. Treasury using one of the various mechanisms established by the Department of the Treasury, including, but not limited to, the Treasury General Account Network, General Lockbox Network, and Pay.gov.

Except as noted below, Federal agencies holding public money outside of the U.S. Treasury pursuant to specific statutory authority are required to place such public funds at a financial institution that the Secretary of the Treasury has designated as a depositary and financial agent of the Federal Government. See 31 CFR Part 202. These Federal agencies must hold such funds in an official account other than an account in the name of the U.S. Treasury. They must comply with all Federal regulations and TFM policies, procedures, and instructions governing public money held outside of the U.S. Treasury and the use of depositaries to hold public money. For example, Federal agencies holding funds in an account at a depositary are responsible for the following:

• Ensuring that acceptable collateral is pledged to secure the public money on deposit in excess of recognized insurance coverage;
  
  AND
  
  
• Properly reporting funds held in accounts at designated depositaries on their monthly Statement of Transactions (FMS 224 or other designated accounting reports) and in their audited financial statements.

In rare cases, a Federal agency may have statutory authority to hold money without depositing it to the U.S. Treasury or into an account at a depositary designated by the Department of the Treasury. However, the agency still must report these funds on its monthly Statement of Transactions (FMS 224) and in its audited financial statements.

The primary relevant regulations, policies, procedures, and instructions are the following:

• 31 CFR Part 202, Depositaries and Financial Agents of the Federal Government-Governs the designation of depositaries and financial agents of the Federal Government and their authorization to accept deposits of public money and to perform other services as may be required of them.
  
  
• 31 CFR Part 206, Management of Federal Agency Receipts, Disbursements, and Operation of the Cash Management Improvements Fund-Prescribes cash management procedures for agencies, including processes for billing, collection, deposit, and payment of funds.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Part 2, Chapter 3400, Accounting for and Reporting on Cash and Investments Held Outside of the U.S. Treasury-Provides accounting and reporting policies and procedures on cash not deposited in a Treasury General Account and investments in non-Federal securities.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 2000, Checks and Cash Received in Collections-Provides check inscription requirements and procedures for Federal agencies to use when depositing checks and cash received in the collection process.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 4000, Making Deposits-Provides instructions for Federal agencies to follow when depositing public monies, including deposits with a general depositary or a Federal Reserve Bank.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Part 6, Chapter 8000, Cash Management-Establishes procedures for Federal agencies to follow to ensure prudent cash management and reiterates that Federal agencies must have statutory authority to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Part 6, Chapter 9000, Securing Government Deposits in Federal Agency Accounts-Provides the requirements for securing public money held outside of the U.S. Treasury.
  
  
• TFM Volume I, Bulletin No. 2006-07, Guidance on Federal Program Agencies (FPAs) Making Postage Payments to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)-Provides guidance to Federal agencies making postage payments to the USPS. This bulletin also reiterates that statutory authority is required to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury, which includes funds for postage.

Section 4125-Overseas Depositaries

This TFM chapter generally concerns funds held at U.S. domestic depositaries. Refer to TFM Volume I, Part 4, Chapter 9000, Foreign Exchange, for guidance concerning funds held at depositaries located overseas.

Section 4130-Accounts of Agency Contractors

Unless an agency has specific statutory authorization, the general statutory requirement that Federal entities must deposit all public money into the U.S. Treasury does not permit Federal entities to deposit public money into a bank account of an agency contractor or vendor. This rule applies irrespective of whether the funds subsequently would be transferred into the U.S. Treasury. The rule applies equally to Federal agency contractors providing payment assistance and similarly prohibits agencies from depositing funds into a contractor or vendor account for subsequent disbursement. For example, a Federal agency must make payments directly to the USPS for postage and may not place public money in a postal vendor's account to be used for postage payment.

Section 4135-Assistance

The Financial Management Service (FMS) will assist Federal agencies with the appropriate mechanism for managing the inflow and outflow of public money. This discussion should occur prior to a Federal agency issuing a Request for Proposal for collecting or disbursing public money. FMS also establishes collateral accounts for Federal agencies to use for securing public money held outside of the U.S. Treasury.

Section 4140-Additional Guidance

As stated above, Federal agencies must have statutory authority to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury. If a Federal agency experiences exceptional circumstances requiring a specific need to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury and, after consulting with agency counsel, is unsure whether it has the requisite statutory authority, the agency can request guidance from FMS in determining whether, and under what conditions, it may hold funds outside of the U.S. Treasury.

The agency's request for guidance should:

• Be written;
  
  
• Provide detailed information about the nature of the funds and where the funds will be held;
  
  
• Provide the statutory basis that the agency believes may permit it to hold public money outside of the U.S. Treasury;
  
  AND
  
  
• Provide an analysis of other options and why they fail to meet the agency's needs.

Agencies should send requests for guidance to FMS's Bank Policy and Oversight Division (see the Contacts page). FMS will provide guidance on a case-by-case basis. Agencies must provide FMS with written notice of any subsequent changes to the statutory basis of any request for which FMS provided guidance.

CONTACTS

Direct inquiries regarding this chapter to:

Bank Policy and Oversight Division
Federal Finance
Financial Management Service
Department of the Treasury
401 14th Street, SW.
Liberty Center Building, Room 317
Washington, DC 20227
Telephone: 202-874-7055

Transmittal Letter No. 643

Volume I

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

1. Purpose

This transmittal letter releases new chapter I TFM 5-4100: Requirements for Using Depositaries To Hold Public Money. This chapter consolidates existing guidance to Federal agencies on the requirements for using depositaries to hold public money. Federal agency financial personnel should share this guidance with program and procurement personnel throughout their agency.

2. Page Changes

Remove		Insert
Table of Contents for Volume I (T/L 632)		Table of Contents for Volume I
Table of Contents for Part 5 (T/L 627)		Table of Contents for Part 5
		I TFM 5-4100

3. Effective Date

This transmittal letter is effective immediately.

4. Inquiries

Direct questions concerning this transmittal letter to:

Bank Policy and Oversight Division
Federal Finance
Financial Management Service
Department of the Treasury
401 14th Street, SW.
Liberty Center Building, Room 317
Washington, DC 20227
Telephone: 202-874-7055

Date: March 5, 2008

Judith R. Tillman
Commissioner