---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5705"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5705"
heading: "Advancements and deductions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5705"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 57 — Travel, Transportation, and Subsistence"
  - "Subchapter I — Travel and Subsistence Expenses; Mileage Allowances"
---

# §5705. Advancements and deductions


An [agency](/usc/5/5701.md?p=1) may advance, through the proper disbursing official, to an [employee](/usc/5/5701.md?p=2) entitled to per diem or mileage allowances under this subchapter, a sum considered advisable with regard to the character and probable duration of the travel to be performed. A sum advanced and not used for allowable travel expenses is recoverable from the [employee](/usc/5/5701.md?p=2) or his estate by—

- (1) setoff against accrued [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4), retirement credit, or other amount due the [employee](/usc/5/5701.md?p=2);
- (2) deduction from an amount due from the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18); and
- (3) such other method as is provided by law.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 94–22, § 2(b), May 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 84.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 838. | June 9, 1949, ch. 185, § 5, 63 Stat. 166. |

The words “disbursing official” are substituted for “disbursing officer” because of the definition of “officer” in section 2104 which excludes a member of a uniformed service. Application to section 5703 is based on former section 73b–2, which is carried into section 5703.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 94–22 struck out “or individual” after “employee” wherever appearing.