Military Finance News
Pay, allowance and tax changes that actually affect Guard and Reserve members. We refresh this page weekly and verify figures against primary sources before publishing them.
2026 military pay raise: 3.8%
Service members received a 3.8 percent basic pay increase for 2026, first appearing in January 2026 paychecks. Drill pay for Guard and Reserve members is derived from the basic pay tables, so the increase flows through to drill compensation as well.
Why it matters for your deduction: higher drill pay can nudge you into a different marginal tax bracket, which changes what your travel deduction is actually worth. If your pay moved this year, re-run the calculator with your updated marginal rate.
IRS raised the standard mileage rate mid-year
The IRS increased the business standard mileage rate to 76.0 cents per mile from July 1, 2026, up from 72.5 cents for the first half of the year. This is the first midyear adjustment since 2022.
Why it matters: 2026 is a split year. Drill trips before July 1 are deducted at 72.5 cents; trips from July 1 onward at 76 cents. Applying a single rate to the whole year will produce the wrong number. Our mileage records guide covers how to handle the split.
Space Force swears in its first part-time Guardians
The Space Force welcomed its first cohort of part-time Guardians, drawn largely from Air Force Reserve ranks. Unlike the other services, the Space Force operates a single component containing both full-time and part-time members rather than a separate reserve component.
Why it matters: published tax guidance has not fully caught up with part-time Guardian status. If you are travelling more than 100 miles to serve in this capacity, it is worth confirming your position with a tax professional. See our branches covered page.
GSA per diem rates reset every October 1
Federal per diem rates for lodging and meals run on the federal fiscal year, October 1 through September 30. New rates take effect each October 1 and are published free at gsa.gov.
Why it matters: your lodging and meal deduction is capped at these rates. Duty dates spanning October 1 use the rate in effect on each date, not one rate for the whole trip. See our per diem guide.
Free filing options remain available
MilTax, offered through Military OneSource, provides free tax preparation software for the military community, and many installations host VITA sites with volunteers trained in military tax issues. VITA volunteers deal with Form 2106 and reservist travel regularly, which many commercial preparers do not.
How we handle this page
Items here are checked against primary sources — irs.gov, gsa.gov, and official service announcements — before they go up. When a figure changes, we update the calculator and the affected guides at the same time. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will verify and correct it.