Preparing for the 2026 Tax Season
By Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) February 2026
Important note: The following information is specific for retirees. For tax resources, annuitants and former spouses should visit myPay and our dedicated webpages on www.dfas.mil.
The 2026 tax season is here and DFAS wants to make sure that retirees, annuitants, and former spouses are prepared. Now is the best time to verify everything is correct in your myPay account so you can retrieve your tax documents when you need to file.
Start with myPay
The best tool DFAS offers to ensure a smooth tax season is myPay (https://mypay.dfas.mil). The most important step to take is to log in to your myPay account and ensure your mailing address is correct.
An easy, online stop for your tax season needs, myPay offers printing or downloading of your tax statements for your retired pay. You can download and print your current year tax statement, as well as prior year 1099-Rs (up to four prior years for retirees). If you need it, you can also download and print IRS Form 1095-B.
You will have earlier access to your tax documents through myPay; 1099-Rs are currently available in myPay, while paper copies are mailed in mid-to-late January. If you haven’t logged in to myPay recently, this is a good time to log in and update your password before this busy tax season.
Changing federal tax withholding
It’s easy to review your current federal withholding status in myPay. If needed, you may adjust it through the corresponding menu option or view withholding amounts on your latest Retiree Account Statement (RAS). If you prefer, you may also update your withholding by filling out the IRS Form W-4, accessible at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website (https://www.irs.gov) or our Forms Library (https://www.dfas.mil/raforms).
Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
The IRS has an online Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine how much tax you need to have withheld. The calculator helps taxpayers estimate if the right amount is withheld from their income to cover their tax liability. The estimator uses a simple, six-step question-and-answer format using information like marital or filing status, income, withholding, adjustments, deductions, and credits. You may access the Tax Withholding Estimator here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator
DFAS cannot provide tax advice. Please consult a tax professional or the IRS.
State taxes for retirees
Retirees can start, stop, or change their State Income Tax Withholding (SITW), but only if that state has an agreement in place allowing DFAS to withhold state tax. In some states, portions of your retired pay may be tax exempt. Because tax obligations vary from state to state, contact your state's department of revenue regarding taxability of your military retired pay.
Any changes to SITW must be made in writing, by submitting a DD 2866 form or by using myPay. DFAS can only withhold income tax for one state at a time, and the designated state must have signed the standard written SITW agreement with the Department of War (DOW). Additional details on changing SITW are available on the DFAS website (https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/manage/taxes/sitw/).
Federal taxability of retired pay
Military retired pay is paid for many different reasons under many different laws. There are differences in the types of pay a military retiree might receive and the tax laws that apply to them. Whether a portion or all an individual’s military retired pay is subject to federal income taxes depends on his/her individual circumstances.
A military retiree can either use myPay or send an IRS Form W-4 to alter the amount DFAS withholds for federal income taxes from their military retired pay. An individual’s choice to have no withholding for federal taxes does not impact whether the individual’s military retired pay is subject to federal income taxes. Ultimately, the IRS will determine the amount of taxes owed on military retired pay.
Please note: the IRS requires any individual claiming exemption from federal withholding to provide a new IRS Form W-4 at the beginning of each tax year certifying their exemption from withholding. Please see our webpage regarding taxation of retired pay (https://www.dfas.mil/retpaytax).
Retirees and SBP annuitants: 2025 tax year statements
Tax statements for retirees, SBP annuitants, and former spouses are currently available in myPay.
Tax statements sent through the U.S. Postal Service will be in the mail prior to Jan. 31, 2026. In many cases, the electronic online forms are available through myPay much earlier and more securely than those sent to customers electing delivery by mail.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095-B and 1095-C statements are available in myPay as of January 31, 2026. The 1095-B and 1095-C tax statements for tax year 2025 are available for reissue via askDFAS at: https://corpweb1.dfas.mil/askDFAS/custCategories.action?pgModId=5060.
