Resources
Official government tools, free filing assistance, and other resources worth knowing about if you're claiming this deduction — none of this replaces professional advice, but it's where to go for the primary sources and free help.
Official government tools
Look up the official lodging and meal per diem rate for any duty location and fiscal year — the exact cap this deduction uses.
gsa.gov/travel/per-diem-rates →The official instructions for Employee Business Expenses, including the reservist rules and the standard mileage rate for the year.
irs.gov/instructions/i2106 →Where the reservist travel deduction is actually claimed — line 12, as an adjustment to income.
irs.gov/forms-pubs/schedule-1 →The IRS page announcing the current standard mileage rate, including any mid-year rate changes.
irs.gov/standard-mileage-rates →Free tax filing help for service members
Free tax prep and e-filing software for the military community, built to handle military-specific situations including this deduction.
militaryonesource.mil/miltax →IRS-certified volunteers, often available on or near military installations, who can prepare basic returns at no cost.
irs.gov/free-tax-return-preparation →Military pay and benefits references
The official source for military pay, including drill pay statements and Leave and Earnings Statements you may need for recordkeeping.
dfas.mil →Where official travel reimbursements are processed — check your voucher history here before calculating your unreimbursed, deductible portion.
defensetravel.dod.mil →On this site
If you haven't already, start with Who Qualifies and Common Mistakes before you dig into the government sources above — they'll save you time narrowing down what actually applies to your situation.