Dear Joe,

I’m thinking about where my family will end up after retirement and we’ll likely move to Hawaii, which isn’t my home of record. What moving expenses will I be responsible for and are they tax deductible?

Island Dreaming

Dear Dreaming,

Great that you are looking ahead! The Army does allow you to move to a different location than your home of record and covers the cost of your final move within the continental United States. For OCONUS moves such as Hawaii, the Army will pay up to the amount it would have cost to move you to the furthest point in the U.S. You will be responsible for any costs after that. Additionally, any qualifying non-reimbursed moving costs do qualify for a tax deduction, as your final move is considered a military order, which is allowed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (and did not change with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill of 2025). Any expenses for subsequent moves would not be eligible for tax deductions. For more information, see the MyArmyBenefits PCS fact sheet and IRS Topic no. 455.

Joe

Dear Joe,

I’ve really enjoyed the benefits that come with my premium credit card I got while in the Army, especially since I don’t have to pay the annual fee. Can I keep the card after I retire?

Traveling Soldier

Dear Traveling Soldier,

Happy travels! Absolutely, you can keep the card after you retire. However, according to the requirements in the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA), the annual fee waiver only applies to active-duty service members. Once you retire, if you decide to keep the card, you must pay the annual fee. It’s your personal choice whether that fee is worth the benefits you receive. If not, you may either close the credit card account or downgrade to another credit card with zero or lower annual fees.

Joe