How the calculators work, what sources they use, and what to verify before decisions.
Military Pay Guide estimates base pay, BAH, BAS, state tax impact, federal withholding assumptions, FICA, TSP contributions, insurance deductions, Guard and Reserve drill pay, GI Bill housing allowance, TSP growth, and VA disability compensation where applicable.
Base pay is tied to pay grade and years of service. BAH is treated as a tax-free housing allowance that varies by duty location and dependency status. BAS is treated as a tax-free food allowance. Taxable income assumptions focus on base pay and taxable special pays, while BAH, BAS, GI Bill benefits, and VA disability compensation are treated as tax-free planning inputs.
State pages are planning guides, not tax opinions. State tax summaries can depend on residency, domicile, orders, spouse income, combat-zone status, and local law changes. The calculators are designed to help service members identify what to verify, not replace a finance office or tax professional.
Pages include last-updated dates, source links, and correction paths. If a reader finds a mismatch with official DFAS, DoD, VA, or TSP sources, the contact page invites corrections with the source URL and affected calculator/page.