Your move details
Your estimate
| Line | Amount |
|---|
Estimate only. Rates shown are 2026 rates: DLA effective January 1, 2026 (PDTATAC MAP 72-25). MALT $0.205/mile for travel begun January 1 to June 30, 2026 and $0.235/mile for travel begun on or after July 1, 2026. Standard CONUS per diem $178/day member, 75% for dependents 12 and older. Government constructed cost is a rough model; your Transportation Office gives you the actual GCC figure before you elect a PPM. Confirm everything with your TMO.
Government move vs PPM, side by side
Your DLA, MALT, and per diem are the same either way. The difference is the household goods shipment:
| Government move (TMO ships it) | PPM (you move it) | |
|---|---|---|
| HHG cost to you | $0 within your weight limit | You pay it, out of pocket |
| Cash from HHG | $0 | 100% of what it would have cost the government, minus your costs |
| Tax on HHG money | None, there is no payout | Profit (payout minus documented expenses) is taxable income, reported on a W-2 |
| Your labor | Packers and movers do it | You pack, load, drive, unload |
| Damage risk | Government claims process if movers break it | You bear the risk, no government claim |
| Schedule control | Carrier's schedule, peak season delays possible | You choose the dates |
What is a PPM (DITY) move?
A Personally Procured Move, still widely called a DITY (do it yourself) move, is when you move your own household goods instead of letting the government-contracted carrier do it. You arrange the rental truck, trailer, or container, you get certified empty and full weight tickets, and you file a settlement with DD Form 2278 within 45 days.
The government pays you 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what it estimates it would have cost to move your authorized weight the same distance. If you can move for less than that, you keep the difference. That difference is your incentive, and it is the part almost every calculator gets wrong by ignoring taxes.
The tax treatment, plainly stated
Your PPM profit is taxable income. Only the profit is taxed, not the whole payout. Profit equals the incentive payment minus your documented, authorized operating expenses. Keep every receipt: truck and trailer rental, gas and oil, packing materials, hired labor, weigh ticket fees, tolls, furniture pads and dollies. Expenses without receipts cannot reduce the taxable portion.
The taxable profit shows up on a W-2, sometimes issued separately from your regular military pay W-2, so watch your mail. By contrast, DLA and MALT are non-taxable allowances. That distinction is why this calculator separates them: the money you keep from a PPM is always less than the headline payout once taxes are applied.
2026 rate tables used
RATES: 2026 Effective January 1, 2026 per PDTATAC. Rates change yearly. Verify with your Transportation Office before you commit.
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) 2026
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $3,548.02 | $1,870.58 |
| E-2 | $3,548.02 | $2,025.26 |
| E-3 | $3,548.02 | $2,355.48 |
| E-4 | $3,548.02 | $2,389.42 |
| E-5 | $3,548.02 | $2,389.42 |
| E-6 | $3,548.02 | $2,389.42 |
| E-7 | $3,551.31 | $2,468.19 |
| E-8 | $3,824.94 | $2,888.97 |
| E-9 | $4,149.51 | $3,147.54 |
| W-1 | $3,151.31 | $2,394.55 |
| W-2 | $3,643.75 | $2,860.70 |
| W-3 | $3,960.78 | $3,221.08 |
| W-4 | $4,323.11 | $3,832.45 |
| W-5 | $4,715.58 | $4,315.51 |
| O-1 | $3,085.23 | $2,273.82 |
| O-2 | $3,451.28 | $2,700.31 |
| O-3 | $4,041.88 | $3,404.11 |
| O-4 | $4,885.43 | $4,247.61 |
| O-5 | $5,542.06 | $4,583.51 |
| O-6 and above | $5,749.63 to $6,385.58 | $4,758.96 to $5,187.33 |
HHG weight allowance (lbs)
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-3 | 8,000 | 5,000 |
| E-4 | 8,000 | 7,000 |
| E-5 | 9,000 | 7,000 |
| E-6 | 11,000 | 8,000 |
| E-7 | 13,000 | 11,000 |
| E-8 | 14,000 | 12,000 |
| E-9 | 15,000 | 13,000 |
| W-1 / O-1 | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| W-2 / O-2 | 13,500 | 12,500 |
| W-3 / O-3 | 14,500 | 13,000 |
| W-4 / O-4 | 17,000 | 14,000 |
| W-5 / O-5 | 17,500 | 16,000 |
| O-6 and above | 18,000 | 18,000 |
Professional gear (PBP&E): up to 2,000 lbs for the member and 500 lbs for the spouse on top of these limits when documented and approved. MALT 2026: $0.205 per mile for travel begun January 1 to June 30, 2026; $0.235 per mile for travel begun on or after July 1, 2026; up to 2 POVs. Per diem: standard CONUS rate $178 per day for the member under the MALT Plus method, 75% for dependents 12 and older, 50% for dependents under 12.
Guides
PPM vs. Government Move: An Honest Side-by-Side
The actual math and trade-offs behind the most argued question in every PCS group, with a worked dollar example.
Yes, Your PPM Profit Is Taxable
The W-2 surprise nobody warns you about: what gets taxed, which expenses reduce it, and how to keep your receipts working for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the money I make on a PPM taxed?
Yes. Your PPM profit, the incentive payment minus your documented authorized operating expenses, is taxable income. It is reported to you on a W-2. This is the most common surprise in PPM moves: the check feels like a bonus, but part of it belongs to the IRS. Keep receipts for every eligible expense, because undocumented costs cannot reduce the taxable portion.
How much of the government cost do I get paid?
For moves in 2026 the PPM reimbursement is back to 100% of the Government Constructed Cost, after a temporary increase to 130% during the summer 2025 carrier capacity crisis. Your TMO gives you the actual GCC figure before you elect a PPM, so use their number, not this estimate, for your final decision.
What counts as a documented operating expense?
Rental trucks and trailers, rental (not purchase) of hand trucks and dollies, furniture pads, boxes and packing materials, hired labor, weighing fees, tolls and parking, and POV gas and oil that is not already reimbursed as MALT. Meals and lodging, insurance, sales tax, and general vehicle maintenance do not count.
What happens if I go over my weight allowance?
Your PPM payout is based on the lesser of your actual certified weight or your authorized allowance, so extra pounds do not raise your payout. On a government move, excess weight over your limit is billed back to you after delivery, often around $1 or more per pound, which can run into four figures fast. You are entitled to a free re-weigh if the scale surprises you.
Is DLA taxed?
No. DLA, like BAH and BAS, is a non-taxable allowance. You keep the full amount. Note that DLA is not paid on a first duty station move without dependents, or on separation and retirement moves.
Should I do a PPM or let the government move me?
It comes down to math and sweat. Run the numbers above: if your after tax profit is well above what your time and labor are worth to you, a PPM usually wins. Long distances, heavy shipments within your allowance, and cheap truck rentals favor a PPM. Short moves, tight timelines, valuable fragile items, and peak season truck prices favor the government move. This tool gives you the financial half of that decision.