Finance_Guy

You would need to be married prior to the effective date of your PCS orders to receive travel entitlements for your spouse. BAH is paid for you perm. duty station and not always where your spouse lives.

From my past experience of interpretation of the regs, I would suspect they are clarifying a limitation in case you use the same trailer to go back and move more HHGs. In that case they wouldn't allow you to use the weight of the trailer twice for that same PCS move. Remember, DITYs are used for local moves as well, so one might think they could load it up, take their stuff a few miles down the road, unload, then come back for another load. Some may try to claim the trailer weight twice, or even three times. I'm sure this is only a limitation per PCS move which leads me to think a separate PCS move years later would allow you to claim the weight on that move since one would be under separate orders and be allowed an entire new weight allowance. Just my thoughts from a finance perspective. The TMO folks are the OPR on this one.

Good point on the BAH and FSA ($250/month) Pawnman. Exta dough you wouldn't have going single--could help pay for a nice ring or start off good investing in TSP. Another benefit is the Tricare, Dental and SGLI coverage the spouse might use while you are in OTS and training. If you plan to get married anyway, doing so before Active Duty will allow you to name your new spouse as the beneficiary. Not that anything will happen, but you just never know. You can also get the family life insurance for cheap too. Just some input on the financial aspects.

Your response was from a 2006 post so not sure if you are asking the question again. Here's how PCS travel works when driving. You are not required to show leave stops on a PCS move when driving the entire trip. In the case presented for 7 days of travel. If you left Beale on 1 Dec and arrived Columbus on 15 Dec, that's what you show on the voucher--mode of travel as PA. Finance looks at the entire days shown and will give credit for the 7 days of travel regardless of how many days actually were used. On the otherhand, if you show leaving 1 Dec and arriving 5 Dec, finance can only give you credit for 5 days. There's nothing in the reg that I know of that states finance must get into a day by day analysis of whether the traveler was actually traveling or on leave. On the comment of weighing things...how much extra did you receive for the floormats, spare tire and etc? A whole $5 or so? I guess one could consider these un-attached items as personal property? That would be a TMO call though.

As I understand the systems, they do update data to the TSP program. So once those 3 months are updated, TSP should be notified to change those contributions to exempt vice the deferred. I would highly recommend you work with finance to get those 3 months updated before 6 Jan. Doing so will ensure you receive a correct W-2 the first time. Since the pay system has rolled to 2008, you will not see the taxes refunded, but your taxable wages would be reduced from what shows on your current Dec LES--any tax refund for those months would occur once you file your 2007 income tax return. You will see the $225/month post to your Jan pay, but again, since the system is in Jan 08 update mode, those amounts will be considered 2008 exempt income.

Given your scenario, I have to say yes, those 20 days would reduce your taxable wages in that month. EX. Base Pay is 3,000.00 (normally taxable for those not in the CZ), so you would only be taxed on 1,000. (3,000 divided by 30, mult. by 10 days, = $1,000 taxable base pay). Basically whenever those 20 days are taken ( or any lesser amount) , your taxable wages are reduced. On the TSP question, yes. Once those contributions go into TSP as Exempt, those amount stay exempt forever. However, any earnings from those amounts would not be exempt. Don't ask me how TSP keeps track of all this when you decide to withdraw funds from TSP when that time comes (age 59.5?).

All the other posts appear correct. You may want to Check in AFI-65-116 Vol 1, chapter 44 for references. Only those days you earned in a CZ and taken later in a non-CZ month would show as tax free. So if you earned 12.5 days and took 10, then your taxable base pay for that month would be 1/3 less. And no, bonuses effective while on any tax free leave are not also tax-free. Bonuses are only tax-free when the effective date is in a month you earned tax exclusion for that whole month. For officers, if you already capped out the maximum tax-free (highest enlisted), then no portion of the bonus is tax free. I almost want to say the regs don't allow for any CZ exemption for officer bonuses. What happens to many people is they take leave right after arriving home while still in a tax-free month, so they don't see the extra benefit. Example: Earned 12.5 days of tax-free LV, Depart CZ on 1 Oct, arrive home on 2 Oct. Take Recon. for 12 days, then LV from 15-27 Oct. Since Oct is already tax-free from being in the zone on 1 Oct, those 12 days are used up since they were the last days of leave earned and no extra tax exemption. As for your example arriving back in Oct and you don't take leave until Jan, you probably would not get all 12.5 days as tax free. I recall someone else mentioned your last leave earned is first leave used. So, taking leave in Jan would first use up an balance you already accrued in Jan (leave accrues by .5 days every 6 days of active duty), then your Dec LV of 2.5, Nov of 2.5, then you start hitting the balance of leave earned in Oct, Sep and on back. So in your example, you may only get about 7 days of tax-free due to earning leave later (5 days) that was not tax-free. This can get really technical when you begin calculations down to the level of earning a half day for every 6 days...but that's what the system does. In theory, you may never hit your tax-free leave until you take terminal leave when separating or retiring. Just depends on how much leave you take. Although a little confusing, the AFI puts it this way: 44.7.2.2. Whenever a member takes leave, the balance as of the end of the leave is compared to the balance as of departure (from the CZ). If the balance as of the end of the leave is less than the balance as of departure, the balance as of the end of the leave becomes the new maximum. I also want to mention that you don't always get tax-free in all HFP or IDP areas . Turkey is a perfect example since Jan 06. You get IDP, but no tax-free. Some areas (mainly airspaces) get CZTE, but no HFP or IDP.

TSP plans do have a yearly limit. For 2007 it's $15,500. If over 50, you have a catch-up option to put in another $5000. These are all called the "deferred" amounts. Any amounts contributed while tax-free for the month are exempt and you can put in much more...I think the last figure was about $45,000. Check out the link for TSP announcements--look for I.R.C Limits. TSP Announcements

Simply put, if you are assigned Permanent Government quarters (base family housing or dormitory), you do not receive BAH. The only exception is if you stay in the dorm and have dependents elsewhere NOT assigned base family housing. A fiance is not a dependent and is not part of any determination of entitlements. If TDY, you retain BAH of your PDS. If you PCS to school and stay in the dorms (no dependents), you get zero BAH regardless of any other rent/mortgage you pay elsewhere. Uncle Sam will not provide Govt QTRs and pay BAH.

A JFTR update effective 25 Sep authorizes payment of 20 cents a mile on PCS regardless of the number of dependents (or no dependents). Travel must begin on or after 25 Sep. See attached PDF for the official change. Keep up with all JFTR changes here: JFTR Changes MAP73_07E_CAP60_07E.pdf

Agreed. The link below may also provide you some additional information. One of the IMCs has this text: "IF A MEMBER ELECTS TO PERSONALLY PROCURE TRANSPORTATION AND/OR NTS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS (HHG) THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE MUST PROVIDE COUNSELING ON A DD FORM 2278 PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVE. " https://afmove.hq.af.mil/page_traffic.asp There's an AF Supplement to the JFTR that deals with Personally Procured Moves (PPM)--you can only access through the AF Portal now. The attachment may be helpful as well. Air_Force_Move_Your_Key_to_a_Successful_Move_20August2006.pdf

There is no policy that says you have to wait. Timely processing of pay entitlements is a PERS/PAY Council hot topic. You should be able to get the FSA started after completing the FSA form and make the certification you are married and have dependents and they are not with you. Also provide a copy of the orders. If they still say no, ask them to produce a regulation quote that says you can't. They won't find it. One note though, you will also have to certify there were no changes to your marital/dependent situation once you do arrive your perm. duty station.

Appears Whiteman supports it. Googled "prime knight" lodging and came up with this. Whiteman Inn

What's Prime Knight all about then? Isn't that a special program that caters to aircrew. Appears that if you contact the command post, they should have your rooms ready by the time you land. Looks like SVS is trying to support the aircrew. Finance has nothing to do with writing the JFTR, AF/A1 (personnel) is the AF OPR for JFTR rules. Is that the real problem...waiting 2 hours for billeting? I would suspect the real driver is that most don't want to stay in billeting anyway, so no one contacts billeting ahead of time. I've seen it in other posts where folks recommend to wait until arrival to reserve billeting, that way nothing will be available. And, if the bird breaks down for a few days, you are already off-base, thus drawing full meal rate. I personally would rather stay on base for convenience. Don't forget what I put in my other post though, all you need is your certification no quarters where available and your AO can approve it. So if billeting is not available, you can still stay off base. You still have the loophole.

For the record, I'm not in a finance squadron any more. Now retired and working with financial systems and do some policy work--basically stay current with the regs. I've been "yelled" at as some call it, but I never "refused" to help my customer. I'm just saying I've heard stories like that. There was a story I heard about vouchers found in a closet at one base which turned out to be true, but that was many years ago. My main point was it's not the customer's role (or right) to yell at the airman. That is not professional either--the airman's direct supervisor or chain of command should take care of that. Respect dwindles when a Lt Col is yelling at an airman (or a MSgt in my case one time) with other finance folks watching and other customers in the waiting area. Very unprofessional in my opinion. It's best to ask for a section chief or OIC and keep your cool. Most finance airmen are still in upgrade training and don't know all the ropes and the ways of the AF. Many of our NCOs and SNCOs are not lifetime finance folks either. Look at their badges and you'll see. Many SFS folks cross train into finance as do Maint. folks. I was in Finance 23 years, so I've seen it all. Some may remember the days when you turned in your voucher and got paid CASH on the spot. Anyway, this topic is on getting you information to receive your just entitlements. I'm only going to respond if a legitimate question is asked or I see something said that is totally wrong. Later

Do you personally greet each passenger?

Not in a Customer to Customer Service Rep. environment. That's not the place. I've seen the attitude before and trust me, there's no special treatment, just a black mark on your name. Now on the subject of lost paperwork, we have to get to the root of the problem, but yelling don't help anything. For all we know the voucher was mailed back and was thrown out in the junk mail.

Sounds like they messed that up too, but can't be sure not knowing all the details. Appears that Holloman may have funded the trip, but just because they are not on DTS does not mean you can't load their funds to your DTS. There's a new functionality in DTS called X-Org funding where the funding unit can allow other units (or down to a individual person) to use their funding line. They also could have sent your unit the fund cite, your RA would then load it for you to use. One disclaimer is with AETC TDY-to-School funds--If you were using those funds, then no joy. Sorry to hear of all your problems. I don't know their story at Vance, but appears they need to work on their customer service.

Talk to the Financial Service officer or your SQ resource advisor. I hope you don't talk to them the way you posted here. If so, I would suspect the paperwork was not "Lost"...you know what I mean. If you have a scanner, scan all your stuff to PDF before submitting. There is nothing in the reg that says they cannot accept it, but local policy may override that. So just in case the voucher gets lost next time, shoot the PDF to the FSO or Comptroller and file a polite complaint and ask them to process the voucher. There's no reason why the voucher should be lost...they just can't find it. Is Vance using DTS???

It doesn't exist in one aspect. If vouchers are filed using DTS (which is mandated for Active Duty), the JFTR Appendix O is the governing regulation. Once you take a close look at these new "Simplified" rules, you will note the 24-hour loop-hole no longer exists. However, the non-A documentation rules in U1045-C are still referenced. It all depends on how your vouchers are paid. Eventually when DTS can process ALL travel vouchers, it will be completely gone unless Appendix O is changed. But since the traveler can certify QTRs were not available and your Approving Official (AO) can approve, no change there. Your DTS AO can also approve Actual Expense up to 300% which is a change from the JFTR rules (for the traveler's benefit). The old rules required Wing CC approval for 150% and MAJCOM FM for 151-300%. Be sure to use Appendix O if your voucher is filed in DTS or FAST. JFTR: U1039 DOD TEST OF SIMPLIFIED ALLOWANCES Simplified travel and transportation allowance rules in Appendix O govern TDY for DOD Components listed in Appendix O and for those locations where DTS has been fielded, or DTS-Limited software with computation module is used, and at USAFE locations where FAST software is used to transition to DTS-Limited. Pages_from_AppO.pdf

Most all entitlements come from the JFTR. In regards to a Non-Availability statement, per the JFTR it's not really required. See U1045 reference below. So what I get from this is the traveler can make a certification and the Order approver concur and approve, then you don't need a Non-A statement or confirmation number. NOTE: If using DTS to prepare authorization and voucher, use the JFTR, Appendix O for guidance. JFTR Web Link What the Finance Office uses in conjunction with the JFTR: TRAVEL-POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES OFFICES AND FINANCE OFFICES-RESERVE COMPONENT DoD Fin Mgmt Reg - Travel Policy and Procedures U1045 GOVERNMENT QUARTERS USE/AVAILABILITY C. Travel Order/Voucher 1. Documentation. A travel order/voucher must document availability/non-availability by: a. Confirmation number provided by the Service’s lodging registration process; b. The date the member attempted to make reservations, and the phone number and name of the billeting office PoC; or c. Member certification that Government quarters were not available on arrival. 2. Authorization/Approval. When a member provides acceptable documentation on a travel order/voucher of Government quarters non-availability, the AO must authorize/approve reimbursement for commercial lodgings.

Could be right since TDY's are paid from O&M dollars, whereas a PCS is paid from the MilPers Account. Many units hit for the TDY funds say no to the TDY since they have no funds, leaving a PCS move on the table provided the length of the training falls into one of those moves that could be classified a PCS.

It's up to how personnel wants to handle it. No mention of the length of your course, so I wasn't sure which one might apply. There are also rules about pipeline status that is covered in the Personnel 36 series AFIs. Parts of the JFTR Guidance are shown below: Effective 5 December 2005 U2146 TIME LIMITATIONS FOR TDY PERIODS (COURSES OF INSTRUCTION) A. TDY for Training Less Than 140 Days (20 Weeks) 1. General. Course(s) of instruction at a school or installation with a scheduled duration of less than 140 days (20 weeks) are TDY. No per diem is payable if prohibited by par. U7125-B. If the scheduled duration of the course is 140 or more days, the school or installation is that member's PDS, except when the course is authorized as TDY under par. U2146-B. B. TDY vs. PCS Status for Training Courses of 20 or More Weeks 1. The Secretary concerned (without delegation) may authorize a designated course (excluding initial entry courses) scheduled for: a. 20 or more weeks, b. But not more than 180 days in length to be attended and completed in a TDY status, rather than in a PCS status. Anytime you see "Secretary Concerned" in JFTR, for AF, this usually means AFPC or AF/A1. JFTR Link

Another address to update is your MyPay account. Along with addresses, don't forget about bank account info if you do get a new bank at the new PDS. Be sure to update MyPay for your payroll, if applicable. One that seems to get missed more often lately is the account information in DTS. Be sure to view your information in your profile the first time you create a new authorization. You can edit the account info prior to signing the authorization or voucher. Check the box to update to your permanent profile and you'll be set for all subsequent claims. When your DTS account is detached from your old unit and later received to the new, the account info stays intact. I know many have separate accounts for the travel voucher payments.