As Americans recover from the holidays, the pesky topic of tax filing lurks in the background. The IRS deadline for 2025 taxes is Wednesday, April 15. Luckily, service members, and their families don’t have to navigate it alone since there are so many free resources available.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the organization that manages the professional finance and accounting services for the U.S. military, announced its 2025 tax statement release dates, which can be found in the graph below. Service members and retirees should login to myPay to access their documents on the available dates.
| 2025 myPay Tax Statement Schedule | Available on myPay |
| Retiree 1099-R | 12/17/2025 |
| Former Spouse 1099-R | 12/17/2025 |
| Annuitant 1099-R | 12/17/2025 |
| Civilian Certificate for Income Tax Adjustment | 12/19/2025 |
| Reserve Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force W-2 | 1/7/2026 |
| Navy Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) W-2 | 1/8/2026 |
| Army Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) W-2 | 1/9/2026 |
| Active/Reserve Marine Corps W-2 | 1/16/2026 |
| Travel Pay 1099INT | 1/20/2026 |
| Active Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force W-2 | 1/21/2026 |
| Civilian (DoW/Non-DoW) W-2 | 1/22/2026 |
| Army Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) Civilian W-2 | 1/23/2026 |
| Savings Deposit Program (SDP) 1099INT | 1/23/2026 |
| Civilian (DOW/Non-DOW) IRS Form 1095 | 1/26/2026 |
| Military/Military Retiree IRS Form 1095 | 1/31/2026 |
| Travel/Miscellaneous W-2 | 1/31/2026 |
The IRS will begin accepting tax filings as of Monday, Jan. 26, but there is no need to rush since taxpayers have until mid-April to file and pay any tax due. Also happening this month, access to Military OneSource’s MilTax program, which is “free for service members, eligible family members, survivors and recent veterans up to 365 days from their separation or retirement date,” according to their website.
TurboTax is another option, offering free federal and state filing for enlisted members (E1-E9) from the active-duty side and reserve; National Guard members are excluded unless serving under qualifying active reserve orders through DFAS. Visit TurboTax for eligibility details and other customized guidance for military members.
Active-duty service members also have the option of TaxSlayer, which allows for free federal filing, covering “all tax situations,” according to its website. However, state returns are an additional cost.
And don’t forget to check out Military Families Magazine’s previous interview with a military tax expert and retired Navy officer in the article, “Reduce your taxes with this end-of-year advice.”
Military installations are another resource, with experts available at centers across the U.S. An online search tool on the MOS website allows users to search by location.
Lastly, for military spouses unsure about what state they should file for, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides guidance, which includes a list of three options on choosing a location for the purpose of taxation of income:
- Service member’s residence or domicile
- Spouse’s residence or domicile
- Permanent duty station of the service member
Read more on the Office of Financial Readiness’ website.
