Moving Tax Deduction Calculator

Active duty service members can still deduct certain moving costs, and this tool estimates what you may claim for the 2026 tax year. The deduction matters because it lowers taxable income during a relocation that the military ordered. Since 2018, the break has been limited to active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces who move under a permanent change of station, or PCS, and from 2026 it also covers certain intelligence-community employees who relocate because of a change in assignment. Both groups follow the same rules, so the calculator works for either.

Estimating the deduction starts with identifying and adding up the unreimbursed expenses tied directly to a PCS. Qualifying costs include moving your household goods and personal effects and the cost of traveling from your old home to your new one, with lodging counted but meals excluded. When you drive your own vehicle, travel is figured using the military moving mileage rate — $0.235 per mile since July 1, 2026 ($0.205 for January-June moves).

Watch out for claiming costs that do not qualify: meals on the road and house-hunting trips are not deductible moving expenses, and including them is a frequent source of trouble. Every expense should trace back to the PCS itself and must not have been reimbursed by the government. Hold on to thorough records, including receipts for lodging, transportation, and professional movers, because the IRS may ask you to back up the claim.