Deployment Pay Calculator — 2026 Rates
See exactly how much more you take home during a deployment — before vs. during vs. full tour total. Models HFP/IDP, Hardship Duty Pay, Family Separation Allowance, Combat Zone Tax Exclusion, Savings Deposit Program, and TSP contribution capacity.
Deployment Details
Service member info
Deployment details
1–18 months
Combat zones designated by Executive Order — your orders will specify if CZTE applies
HDP capped at $100/month if also receiving HFP/IDP
$300/month — requires separation from dependents for 30+ days. Non-taxable.
Savings opportunities
Combat zone limit: $72,000/yr
Available after 30+ days in combat zone
Maximum deposit: $10,000
Before Deployment
Base pay
$4,760
BAH
$2,049
BAS
$477
Gross monthly
$7,285
Est. federal tax
On base pay only
−$401
Est. take-home
$6,884
During Deployment
Base pay
Tax-free (CZTE)
$4,760
BAH
Continues at home rate
$2,049
BAS
$477
HFP / IDP
+$225
Hardship Duty Pay
+$100
Family Separation
Non-taxable
+$300
Gross monthly
$7,910
CZTE tax savings
All pay excluded
+$401
Est. take-home
+$1,026/mo vs. before (+15%)
$7,910
9-Month Tour Total
Additional pay (HFP + HDP + FSA)
$625/mo × 9 mo
$5,625
CZTE tax savings
$401/mo × 9 mo
$3,611
SDP interest earned
$10,000 × 10% × 9/12 mo
$750.00
TSP contributed
10% of base pay — Roth eligible (CZTE)
$4,284
Total deployment financial benefit
$9,986
Additional pay + tax savings + SDP interest over 9 months
Monthly take-home comparison
Maximize your deployment window
Maximize Roth TSP — your pay is already tax-free
highIn a combat zone, Roth TSP contributions come from CZTE-excluded pay, meaning no taxes now, no taxes on growth, no taxes at withdrawal. The 72,000 annual limit applies during deployment. Consider raising your contribution percentage before you deploy.
Learn more →Your BAH continues — save the difference if housing costs are lower
mediumYour housing allowance continues at your home station rate during deployment. If your family's housing costs are below your BAH rate, those savings accumulate tax-free.
Read the full deployment financial planning guide
lowDetailed walkthrough of CZTE, SDP, Roth TSP strategy, and how to structure your finances before, during, and after the deployment window.
Learn more →Related tools
Disclaimer
This calculator estimates deployment compensation based on 2026 rates. Actual pay depends on your specific orders, designated combat zone status, and finance office processing. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion applies only in areas designated by Executive Order — verify with your orders and finance office. FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) still apply to all pay even in combat zones. SDP availability requires 30+ consecutive days in a combat zone while receiving HFP/IDP. TSP combat zone contribution limits are subject to IRS rules and may be affected by your BRS matching. This is not tax or financial advice — consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE)
Service members in a designated combat zone receive federal income tax relief under 26 U.S.C. § 112. Enlisted members and warrant officers have all military pay excluded from federal income tax for any month they serve in the combat zone — even one day in a month qualifies the entire month.
Officers receive the same exclusion but capped at the highest enlisted rate (E-9 maximum base pay) plus the HFP/IDP amount — approximately $10,520/month in 2026. Base pay above that cap remains taxable. State income tax treatment varies by state — many states follow the federal exclusion, others do not.
Savings Deposit Program (SDP)
The SDP is a government-backed savings account offering a guaranteed 10% annual return — available only to service members deployed to designated combat zones for 30 or more consecutive days. The maximum deposit is $10,000; interest is compounded quarterly at 2.5% per quarter.
SDP interest continues for 90 days after leaving the combat zone, making the full return slightly higher than the deployment window suggests. The SDP is administered through DFAS — open an account through your unit finance office or myPay.
Hostile Fire Pay / Imminent Danger Pay
HFP and IDP are both authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 310 at the same rate — $225/month in 2026. HFP is typically paid as a flat monthly rate for members engaged with or under threat of hostile fire. IDP may be prorated on a daily basis depending on the type of deployment and qualifying conditions — verify with your finance office how your specific deployment is categorized.
When receiving HFP or IDP, Hardship Duty Pay is capped at $100/month (down from $150/month maximum) per DoD FMR Volume 7A, Chapter 17.
Family Separation Allowance (FSA)
FSA is authorized when a service member with dependents is deployed away from them for 30 or more consecutive days. The FY2026 NDAA increased FSA from $250 to $300/month — the first increase since 2002. FSA is a non-taxable allowance.
FSA requires dependents to be enrolled — it is not paid to single members without dependents. Authorization is under 37 U.S.C. § 427.
TSP during deployment
During months in a designated combat zone, the TSP contribution limit rises from the normal elective deferral limit ($24,500 in 2026) to the IRC § 415(c) total additions limit ($72,000 in 2026). This dramatically increases the amount you can shelter tax-free during a deployment.
Contributions above the normal limit must go into the traditional TSP — not Roth TSP — during combat zone months. Plan your contribution percentage in advance; DFAS processes TSP elections and changes through myPay.
Hardship Duty Pay — Location (HDP-L)
HDP-L is a tiered allowance authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 305 for service in locations designated as hardship duty areas. The four tiers are $50, $100, $150, and $0 (no HDP). The level is determined by the specific deployment location designation, not by personal election.
HDP-L is capped at $100/month when also receiving HFP or IDP. If your deployment location is designated at the $150 tier but you are also receiving HFP, you receive $100 HDP-L — not $150.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on published 2026 DoD and IRS rates. Actual entitlements depend on your deployment orders, official combat zone designation, DFAS processing, and individual tax situation. HFP/IDP rate: $225/month (37 U.S.C. § 310). FSA: $300/month (37 U.S.C. § 427, FY2026 NDAA). CZTE: 26 U.S.C. § 112 and IRS Publication 3. SDP: 10 U.S.C. § 1035. TSP combat zone limit: IRC § 415(c) — $72,000 for 2026. Federal tax calculation uses 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction for single filers; actual taxes will vary based on filing status, deductions, and state tax law. Always verify your specific entitlements with your finance office and DFAS.