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Civilian Pay to Equal Military Take Home Pay

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Many new military retirees accept starting salaries that sound attractive … and then are shocked when their first (net) civilian paycheck is significantly smaller than they had expected. That's because they forgot to consider that civilian salaries are fully taxable, whereas they've been used to having a portion of their military compensation tax-exempt (subsistence and housing allowances). This calculator was built to help retiring or separating members better understand what civilian salary they'll have to earn to realize the same take-home pay they had in the military. Remember that this is just a first-level calculator. You also may need to account for civilian contributions to a 401(k) retirement plan, health insurance, and other expenses. (Please note State Tax Disclaimer)

Civilian Pay to Equal Military Take Home Pay Definitions

Basic Pay, Current, Monthly
Based on grade and years of service. Go to Military Pay Charts for details. This link will open in a new window, close any new window(s) to return to the input form. NOTE: You may need to close more than one window to return to the input form.
Housing Allowance, Monthly
Enter monthly amount of any housing allowance. If in government provided quarters, enter 0. This amount is not taxable. Go to DefenseTravel.dod.mil Basic Housing Allowance for details. This link will open in a new window, close any new window(s) to return to the input form. NOTE: You may need to close more than one window to return to the input form.
Subsistence Allowance, Monthly
Enter monthly amount of any subsistence allowance. This amount is not taxable. Enter 0 if none. See the pay tables from the link under the “Basic pay” paragraph for the latest amounts.
Special Pays, Taxable, Monthly
Enter monthly amount of any taxable special pays such as Flight Pay, Sea Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, ConUS COLA, etc.
Retired Pay, Expected, Monthly
Based on grade and years of service at time of retirement. Enter proper value based upon which of the three retirement systems (final base pay/high three/REDUX) that applies to you. If leaving service before retirement eligibility, enter 0. Go to Retirement Eligibility for details. Retired pay calculators can be found at Military Calculators. These links will open in a new window, close any new window(s) to return to the input form. NOTE: You may need to close more than one window to return to the input form.
Filing status
Choose your filing status. Your filing status determines the income levels for your Federal tax rates. It is also used to determine your standard deduction, personal exemptions, and many deduction or credit phaseout income ranges. The ‘Filing Status’ table summarizes the five possible filing status choices. Your marital status as of the last day of the year determines your filing status.

Filing Status
Married Filing Jointly If you are married, you are able to file a joint return with your spouse. If your spouse died during the tax year and you did not remarry, you are still able to file a joint return for that year. You may also choose to file separately under the status "Married Filing Separately".
Qualified Widow(er) Generally, you qualify for this status for two years after the year of your spouse's death, as long as you and your spouse qualified to file a joint tax return in the year of their death and you did not remarry. You are also required to have at least one dependent child or stepchild for whom you are the primary provider.
Single Use this filing status if you don't qualify for any other filing status. Generally, If you are divorced, legally separated or unmarried as of the last day of the year (and you are not using another filing status) you should use this status.
Head of Household This is the status for unmarried individuals (or individuals considered unmarried) that pay for more than half of the cost to keep up a home for qualifying individuals who live with the taxpayer for more than one-half of the year. (The taxpayer's dependent parent does not have to live with the taxpayer but can still qualify provided you pay over half of the cost of keeping up the parent's home.). You can also choose this status if you are married, but didn't live with your spouse at any time during the last six months of the year.
Married Filing Separately If you are married, you have the choice to file separate returns. The filing status for this option is "Married Filing Separately".

Check www.irs.gov under 'Pubs and Forms' for the latest standard deductions on the IRS form 1040 instructions.

**STANDARDDEDUCTION_TAXYEAR_DEFINITION**

Number of additional dependents
A dependent is someone you support and for whom you can claim a dependency exemption. Do not include yourself. See the current IRS form 1040 Instructions for the latest deductions.
Where you currently file your state income tax
Choose the state where you currently file your state income tax. The tool will apply an average state tax rate to your current income to estimate your state taxes. The average tax rate used includes state and local taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, property taxes, etc.
State Tax Disclaimer
This calculator uses the current average state tax percentage developed by the Tax Foundation. The report is titled 'Annual State-Local Tax Burden Ranking 2023' and can be found at Tax Foundation Facts and Figures. To accurately calculate state and local taxes which vary significantly across the states is very complex. The calculator uses the above report as a source of a single percentage that can best represent each state's tax burden. It is recognized that this may be a gross approximation, but it is felt to be a proper approach for the calculator's general purpose.
Is your basic pay subject to state taxes in your current state?
Select 'No' only if you are sure that the state where you currently file your state income tax does not collect taxes on your basic pay. All others should select 'Yes.'
Where you expect to file your state income tax as a civilian
Choose the state where you will file your state income tax as a civilian. The tool will apply an average state tax rate to your current income to estimate your state taxes. The average tax rate used includes state and local taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, property taxes, etc. See the disclaimer in the above state income tax description.
Federal Income Tax rates:
**TAXTABLE_CURRENT_DEFINITION** See the latest IRS form 1040 instructions for the latest tax rates by income. Check www.irs.gov under 'Pubs and Forms' for the latest standard deductions on the IRS form 1040 instructions.