Taxes
File Your Taxes for Free With MilTax
Take the stress out of tax season with MilTax: a 100% free suite of services for service members and their families.
Military OneSource MilTax is designed to handle complex military-specific tax scenarios such as deployments and multistate filings and includes free one-on-one help from specially trained tax experts.
All active duty, National Guard and reserves service members and immediate family members can file their federal return and up to three state tax returns for free. Survivors are eligible for MilTax, and recent veterans can access it up to 365 days from their separation or retirement.
MilTax eligibility is verified through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Eligibility takes you through the entire tax filing season. Contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 for more information.
Get started with https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services/.
Other options for free or discounted tax services
If you no longer qualify for Military OneSource’s MilTax, you may be eligible for https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free and the https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers. Additionally, many tax services provide a discount to veterans.
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More Articles on the Social Security Tax Deferral
Here are some more articles about the Social Security tax deferral:
Order Gives Employees Social Security Withholding Tax Deferral, Not Forgiveness
Payroll Tax Deferral Takes Effect for Service Members
Troops, DoD Civilians Won’t Be Able to Opt Out of Payroll Tax Deferral Plan
Trump promises to erase troops’ 2021 deferred tax debt, but lawmakers say he can’t
Military Times Article on Payroll Tax Deferral and a Cheat Sheet
Here’s a cheat sheet developed by Dr. Dustin Schuett* for the issue discussed in the article below:
Here’s a link to the Military Times article:
More than a million troops to get temporary pay hike with payroll tax deferral — but there’s a catch
*Note: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government.
Info on Social Security Payroll Tax Deferral for Active Duty
BLUF – If your monthly basic pay is less than $8,666.66 per month you are going to get extra money deposited in your accounts for the rest of the year, but they will take it back in early 2021.
Here’s the military relevant text from the DFAS page discussing this COVID related Presidential initiative:
In order to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Presidential Memorandum was issued on August 8, 2020 and guidance followed by Internal Revenue Service on August 28, 2020, to temporarily defer Social Security (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) tax withholdings. This change is effective through the end of the 2020 calendar year.
Military Members – Effective for the September mid-month pay, DFAS will temporarily defer the withholding of your 6.2% Social Security tax if your monthly rate of basic pay is less than $8,666.66. If your monthly rate of basic pay is at or above this threshold, your social security tax withholding will not be affected by the temporary deferral. Military members can use their August or prior LES as a good reference for their typical Social Security tax amount. The Social Security tax is labeled as “FICA-SOC SECURITY” on the LES and is calculated as 6.2% of basic pay.
Military members are not eligible to opt-out of the deferral if their Social Security wages fall within the stated limits. The deferral will happen automatically.
Per IRS guidance, collection of the deferred taxes will be taken from your wages between January 1 and April 30, 2021 for both military members and civilian employees. Additional information on the collection process will be provided in the future.
If a military member or civilian employee separates or retires in 2020 before the Social Security tax can be collected in 2021, they are still responsible for the Social Security tax repayment. Additional information on the collection process will be provided in the future.
For questions on the temporary deferral of the 6.2% OASDI withholding:
- Visit the IRS page: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/guidance-issued-to-implement-presidential-memorandum-deferring-certain-employee-social-security-tax-withholding.
Still have questions? See the FAQs for more information.
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