Finance_Guy

Yes, very good advice--know the JFTR well, or at least open it up and use Ctrl-F to find things. Using the reference below provided you meet all the restrictions, you can be reimbursed to ship the POV up to the cost had they paid you to drive two POVs. Pay close attention to the cost example. Only applies to those with dependents where you could be authorized more than one POV. May not cover ALL the cost, but you can see there is some allowance. U5417 TRANSPORTATION OF A POV WITHIN CONUS INCIDENT TO A PCS A. General B Member Possesses More than Two Vehicles C. Restrictions D. Cost Reimbursement Example E. Cost Reimbursement Example

Um, did you try myPay? You don't set up allotments for TSP. The TSP line is to call about your TSP account after funds have been deposited.

There are two types of advances when you PCS.... One is called "advance pay" which is where you can take up to 3 months of your basic pay minus deductions and pay it back over up to 24 months with special approval. The standard payback is 12 months with no special approvals. The other is "advance travel pay" or as some call it, "advance DLA". It is written in the law that if you have a gov't travel card then you are to use that for all your travel related expenses and there should be no advances paid out when a GTC is in hand. It is part of that keeping our cash and letting Citibank front the money. So, there are different views out there between the commands and AMC's position is to follow the SECAF and CSAF policy to not pay advances when a person has a GTC. Other commands may differ or just ignore it. My son was an E-4 with at GTC with a PCS from CONUS to OCONUS, drove half way across the U.S., flew part way across the U.S., then hit the rotator and then had TLA in OCONUS. Wife and two kids and used his GTC the entire time and DID NOT NEED a DLA advance. So for all those bitching about your DLA advance, just stop, use your GTC (which AF gets rebates), then you'll get it at your new base. If you really need some money and have a GTC, then get the advance pay to get you by. Finance offices are still giving out the regular advance pay.

Warning: Apple App store offering TSP App not sanctioned by TSP — A free iPhone App, TSP Funds, currently being offered through the Apple App store asks TSP participants for their account login information. This app is not being offered through the TSP and the TSP does not recommend using this application to access your TSP account. Providing this information could result in a security risk to your account.

The reason is our good ole IRS. It is in Pub 15 -- Search for Supplemental wages. Taxed the same as bonuses and any other one-time payments. There is no way to change this one-time withholding rule. All you can do is factor the amount withheld into your total tax bill picture, then maybe ratchet down your withholding coming out of your monthly pay. Example is to change from Married and 0 exemptions to Married and 1 exemption. Or 2. Use a tax calculator on the web to help estimate.

Remember 25% of your gross entitlement less expenses you reported goes to Federal Income tax--Look for FITW on your voucher. My brother did a DITY recently and had 11,000 lbs and got about $6K gross but then factor in the taxes it is much less.

There is such a BAH, it is called transit BAH using non-locality rates. Rates Here: BAH II (Reserve Component/Transit) BAH-II (RC/T) is the housing allowance for members in particular circumstances, for example, reservists on active duty less than 30 days. It also applies when a member is in transit from selected areas where no prior BAH rate existed. It does not vary by geographic location. BAH-II (RC/T) was set based on the old Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), which was based on the national average for housing. BAH-II is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's table by the percentage growth of housing costs.

Thanks Tonka... So if I get furloughed, I'm not getting screwed over??? It is time to share the wealth if this deal goes down. And reading the other posts, I guess I need to clarify the JFTR. The JFTR only authorizes the payment IF the commander and TMO approve, it is not an automatic. So this conditional entitlement, if approved, creates a duplicate entitlement IMO. I have presented this messed up entitlement to the AF Per Diem Committee points of contact when THEY asked for ideas to reduce travel dollars which stemmed from an OMB Memo. People need to keep in mind entitlements are for an intended purpose to reimburse for costs and not create a windfall of money for those concerned. BAH is to pay for a place to live and put your stuff. If you still receive BAH and don't have a mortgage or rent payment, then fine you are making out, but don't then go ask for Uncle to pay for your storage of your stuff too. Let's hope the JFTR gets changed, but I highly doubt it, but you never know. When the I-TDY requirements/entitlements first came out in 2005, if single members wanted the AF to pay for HHGs storage while deployed, the member had to submit a justification to AF/A1PA as to why their BAH would not cover the payment of storage. A year later AF removed that requirement because the Army wasn't doing it that way. But you know what the Army did, if they paid for your Storage, then you lost your BAH. AF didn't look at that part of it. That makes sense too, if you don't have a mortgage or rent payment, AF pays your HHGs storage, and you reside in Gov't QTRs at the deployed location, then why should you get BAH. And one last point on this is when the commander does approve the payment, that comes out of his pot-o-money which will take away from other unit requirements. So commanders need to make a decision and say, well, do I pay for Major Snuffy's HHG storage when he gets BAH too, or do we buy those flat screen TVs we need for the break-room. I'd just hope if you see your unit scrimping to buy things needed for the mission, then the CC needs to to deny this entitlement. It just doesn't make sense to forego certain things to try and line the pockets of the "working man".

I swear to god if I get the furlough and lose a month's worth of pay, there will be no end to me sharing examples of stupid spending to various congressional members, media included. One such stupid measure is how we try to "take care of the troops" and pay for their HHGs storage when they deploy. Dammit, they receive BAH to pay for a "place for their stuff". Commanders should never approve using taxpayer dollars (their unit funds) to supplement the intended purpose of BAH. Yes, I know it's in the JFTR AF Supp that says they can, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. People are also to utilize gov't quarters and mess to the maximum extent possible too, but do we ever see that...well, maybe 1% of the time, but mostly it is all about "how much can I get from the government". How about try claiming only 2 missed meals each day versus scamming for all 3. These are hard times I know and if a furlough is in order, then so be it, I'll contribute my part, but I can assure you there are many others who could change their ways to save some bucks. Come on 5 O'clock news. End my FG rant!

Got it but I was focused on this part, "Your tax software will then crunch the numbers, and you will pay taxes on the 40K and will owe about $6K, or about 15%." Tax software will calculate the overal tax rate using the deductions & etc. So you can't say "assuming no deductions and all that" and then say your software will spit out you owe $6K on $40K. I was more or less saying the same thing you just saidn in your last sentence above.

I'd like to point out that you are assuming a person is taxed on the full $40K without regard to deductions, exemptions, earned income or child tax credits. A single person's return would reduce the $40K by an easy $10K which leaves $30.2K taxable. Tax due of about $4,106; based on $70K income, 5.9% effective tax rate. Married with a spouse, no kids [and only one income] would make taxable AGI at about $20.5K with a total tax due of $2,209; based on $70K income, 3.2% effective tax rate. If the couple had a kid and only one income, then I'd say eff. rate more or less would be 0.00% due to earned income and child credits. The point here is you rarely get taxed based on the W-2 Federal wage amount face amount, there are adjustments, so people need to figure all that in as well. Most good tax software, if not all, will give you the annual "effective tax rate" after you file. I go by that number in the end, but do watch the tax rate brackets in trying to get into the next lower one if possible. http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/

Let me know any you find....for a smoker of course. If you are a smoker or have any other possible medical issues VGLI IS the PLAN to get...at least for short term--meaning until your investments runneth over and you no longer need a life Ins. policy. But hell, for $400K, at about 40 something, it stil isn't a bad deal. Edit to Add: If you snore or have problems sleeping, get a sleep study done BEFORE you retire so it is all documented in your AD Medical records. If you deployed, sleep apnea can be attributed to dust and smoke in the the Persian gulf areas. No one may even ask you about it during all your final outprocessing medical appts, so make sure you get it documented. That is of course if you have any issues. But even it only minor now, still get it in there.

Don't know. I know some commands thought it was more work, but it is not all about Finance workload. I think PIPS is a rather good program no matter what some may say and you have electrons of filing the voucher and a record of Finance reviewing it that sends it on to Ellsworth AFFSC.

Not sure where you get your numbers but the rate changed from 4.2% back to the original 6.2%. So if your FICA/OASDI was $240 then you are most likely taxed on a base pay of $5,714,29. Now multiply that base pay by the 6.2% and that comes to $354, not $400. That is a 47% increase using the FICA rates. When it was first implemented everyone saw a 32% decrease in the rate. Funny how the percents are not the same. Bottom line, you are only paying another 2% of base pay to FICA ($114). http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123331498 In my honest opinion they should have never messed with social security rates--some tax holiday it will be one day when it runs dry.

I'm assuming your current PDS is CONUS. You can change your mailing address but that does not drive the zip code used for the rate of BAH. BAH is based [edit] on your PDS and while you are on terminal leave, you maintain assignment to that PDS. Therefore, your BAH stays at the rate of your current duty station and you cannot change that, only PCS orders or an AF Waiver can change it. I've never seen a waiver for a BAH rate at time of separation or retirement--probably because the JFTR doesn't provide for that type of change. For more reading, check out the JFTR, para U10401.B and subparas 5 & 6 under that one. And specifically para U10416.E - BAH upon retirement or separation

That is correct, if signed as is. So will you have a 135 day leave balance as of 30 Sep? If so then you'd have to use 75 days, but remember you still can always carry over 60 days. Also, any leave lost can be requested to be restored. You will see your personnel specialist for that, not finance.

New DLA rates effective 1 Jan 2013. SYNOPSIS: Increase the DLA rates effective 1 January 2013 based on the Employment Cost Index (ECI) of 1.7%. 37 USC 1009© contains an automatic pay raise provision in the event Congress doesn't act. However, section 601 of the Conference Report of the FY13 NDAA includes a pay raise of 1.7%. Changes are scheduled to appear in JFTR change 314, dated 1 February 2013. Rates Attached... DLA Rates 1Jan2013 MAP 163-12.pdf

It is good only once, but not forever. Under normal circumstances a retiree must declare and move to their HOR (and ship HHGs) within 1 year of retirement. There are waiver requests but those have to meet certain criteria and are normally only for HHGs.

DTS will send you another debt notice with the revised (or original amount in this case) debt amount. If the amounts are the same you can pay using either notice. The Pay.Gov option seems to be working well for people. You will request the refund from CITI separate from the payment to DTS.

Ahh, I can see where that may leave someone hanging in case they needed to know. Guess I just thought most people knew where CPTS fit in. I was just commenting on RAMurai's funny post--wasn't trying to point out anything was wrong--just glad that finance wasn't under one of those groups--did not realize I was supposed to say where they are. Not sure how that relates to "true finance style"....Hey maybe I could make a song with that to the tune of Gangnum Style.

I'd still like to know what you meant by it. You didn't answer my question.

CPTS is a Wing Staff agency and why they don't fall under MSG. The Comptroller work directly for the Wing CC since the Wing CC has the purse. ??? I'm not really sure what you are referring to. Which post# did I say what was wrong?

Glad Finance doesn't fall under either one.

Technically they did answer your question although the answer was Wrong! And I was just joking about getting a response--there should be no customer that doesn't at least get some sort of acknowledgement finance is working the question or issue. The email in RTS can't be viewed or updated by you. Only the local finance or Ellsworth can update it. But if you go in to finance or email them again ask them to verify the email address loaded in your RTS profile. Then once they check it and respond, then ask them to pull up your RTS history and see if the accrual is showing as input and scheduled to pay. With a TDY enroute during PCS you would not use DTS--I didn't know. So you are stuck with the paper madness. Hey once the NextGen Travel system comes online in about 5 years maybe it can handle PCS with TDY enroute. BTW, PM me and I can check RTS for the VCH status as well, and your email address. Thanks. FG Source: A call to the Base Comptroller and tell them to fix it. Or ask the Wing King to email them. You'd be amazed how quick shit is fixed in those circumstances. Shouldn't have to be that way but at least it puts your stuff on the top of the pile. FG Bingo. Everyone who goes into PCS status should be put in Mission Critical. CITI has no problem with that. Best to have your unit APC do it before you depart. FG

Hmm, well I have a few comments on this one and by no way am I justifying the A1C's grammar or syntax. However I do understand the written communication which is the ultimate goal, I guess? As Spoo said, at least you got a response. But I argue that Finance does have a way to track it and could have easily looked it up in eFinance, FM Workflow or RTS. My further input to this Is why do you need to "track" your accrual voucher? Do you want someone to contact you at each step of the process to confirm to you everyone is doing their Job. A question to you--Did you use eFinance to file your accrual? If not, then keep following your paper methods of madness. Use eFinance and you "track" your own accrual to see if Finance approved it. But after finance approves it whether in eFinance or paper copy, it gets scanned into a system [FM Workflow] to Ellsworth. Ellsworth enters the data into the voucher payment system, RTS. The nice thing with eFinance is it automatically ingests the document to FM Workflow. Then you just wait for the Ellsworth AFFSC technician to process the payment in which you will get an email from RTS--provided your email address is correct in RTS. So to answer your question, there is really no way for YOU to track the VCH unless you keep emailing or calling. If you use eFinance and see finance approved it then you can be assured it was electronically sent to the AFFSC. But after that you wait. But finance can check in both of the aforementioned systems and see where your voucher is. I'm assuming you are a reservist and aren't using DTS yet. Later FG