In the bustling military base of Fort Valor, the soldiers were renowned for their precision in combat, but when it came to filing their federal income taxes, even the most disciplined among them stumbled. As tax season approached, a group of friends, Sergeant Alex, Corporal Mia, and Private Jake, found themselves in a whirlwind of confusion and misconceptions. Sergeant Alex, the battle-hardened veteran, thought he had everything figured out. He believed that since he lived on base, he was automatically exempt from paying taxes. Confidently, he skipped over crucial tax forms and failed to report his military pay accurately. Little did he know that while he might be exempt from certain state taxes, federal taxes still applied. Corporal Mia, known for her attention to detail, made a common mistake that many military members faced. She underestimated the importance of keeping track of her moving expenses. When she received orders for a new duty station, she assumed her expenses would b...
Over the past 10 years having been a military spouse, I have learned a few lessons when it comes to taxes and fees when you move to a new location: Some employees, whether they work in HR at your new job or at the local DMV may not know the exemptions and rights that you have as a military spouse or dependent. When someone tells you no on exempting you from a fee or tax, I have reference material or a good CPA on hand. They may not interact with military members very often and are not aware of current laws. Be sure your employer has the correct military exemption forms when filling out your W-4. In my experience, even when your human resource representative says they have what they need, it is likely they do not. Several times I had to fill out local city and state military withholding forms that my human resource department failed to provide. When possible I have my vehicles titled in my spouse's name so that I am exempt from local property taxes withou...