KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

What Military Moving Expenses are Tax-Deductible?


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PCS moves are expensive.  Even with all the allowances, you’ll sometimes have some out-of-pocket expenses, especially if you have pets.  Thankfully, unreimbursed moving expenses can be deducted from your income taxes, and they’re a most valuable type of deduction. Disclaimer: I am not a tax professional. Do not make any decisions based solely on the… | Read More…

New Law Will Make Tax Time Easier For Military Spouses


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The president has signed the a bill that permits military spouses to choose the legal residence of their service member without having to actually live there and fulfill the other residency requirements. S. 2248 (115th): Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 has a provision that states: “For any taxable year of the marriage, the spouse… | Read More…

Home of Record and State of Legal Residence: Things You Need To Know


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The military can be confusing, with all its special terms and acronyms. One of the terms most often mis-used is home of record. The term comes up in questions about taxes and driver’s licenses and final moves. On rare occasion, when talking about final moves, it’s being used properly. The other 99.9% of the time,… | Read More…

Financial Advice for New Military Spouses (and the rest of us)


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Occasionally, I’m fortunate enough to get to talk to some new, or new-ish, military spouses.  There’s so much to know about money in general, and money and the military can be particularly tricky.  I usually have a limited amount of time, and I struggle to decide on the most important topics to discuss.  I want… | Read More…

Capital Gains Rules for Military Families


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Note:  this is not professional tax advice.  While I have confirmed this information with various professionals, do not take my word for it.  Read the tax rules yourself (link at the bottom) and consult with your tax professional to see how the rules apply to you. When you’re in the military, one of the most… | Read More…

Why My Teen Is Having Taxes Withheld This Summer


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Our family is reaching another milestone this summer – the first paid job by a teen.  Daughter #2 has obtained a lifeguarding job at a local pool, and we recently filled out all her new hire paperwork, including the W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.  As we filled it out, there was a discussion of whether… | Read More…

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act – The Actual Text


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Passed in 2009, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) offers military spouses certain protections while moving around on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders.  Unfortunately, it is an imperfect piece of legislation.  It doesn’t address many of the issues that military spouses would like to see managed, such as what to do if you… | Read More…

How Income Taxes Work


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Income taxes are complicated things.  There are literally thousands of pages of laws, and hundreds of different forms that some people have to use to file their income tax return.  However, the basic system isn’t really that complicated. Before I explain the income tax system, let me explain something very similar:  budget billing for utilities…. | Read More…

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Disclaimer

Kate does not represent the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. This blog is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content on this site should not be considered professional financial or legal advice. I may receive compensation through affiliate or advertising relationships from products mentioned on this site. All reviews on this site represent the personal opinions of the author. All references to third party products, rates, and offers may change without notice.