What Is the Publication 3 Armed Forces' Tax Guide?

Publication 3 Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, or IRS Publication 3, is a document published by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that outlines special tax considerations for active members of the United States military. It is one of a series of publications explaining the IRS rules for taxpayers with special situations. The tax guide details how and when active military members should file their tax returns and covers a number of topics that pertain specifically to service in the armed forces.

Understanding the Publication 3 Armed Forces' Tax Guide

IRS Publication 3 covers both regular and reserve personnel directed by the Secretaries of Defenses, Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the Coast Guard. Neither the Red Cross nor Merchant Marines are included.

Allowances for Military Only

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Members of the military receive several types of allowances and pay, such as Combat Zone Exclusions, which are not treated as normal income. The Armed Forces’ Tax Guide outlines which it🍸ems a꧒re subject to taxation.

Taxable income listed in the guide includes basic pay for active duty, reserve training, training duty, and drills, among other assignments. It also includes special pay, such as foreign duty or medical and dental officers, in addition to bonus pay, incentive pay, and "other" pay, which includes student loan repayment from certain programs, high deployment per diem, and accrued leave.

Income that may be excluded from gross income includes combat pay and family allowances, which include certain educational expenses for children and emergencies, moving allowances, travel allowances, and death allowances.

The Armed Forces’ Tax Guide also covers tax credits that are available to the general public, such as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:child tax credit and earned income credit.

Tax Deductions Covered in IRS Publication 3

The guide clarifies questions 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:members of the armed forces may have about business expenses an🏅d when they c⛄an claim a tax deduction.

For example, a section titled, "How To Report My Reserve-Related Travel Expenses" helps service members understand whether they are eligible to claim business expenses for meals when they are living abroad for their assignment.

The guide further outlines what kinds of expenses military workers can claim for the cost of their travel, transportation, uniforms, and educational activities.

IRS Publication 3 on Filing Instructions

The Armed Forces’ Tax Guide covers the logistical details of filing and explains how and when military workers can file their tax returns in a variety of situations, such as if they are overseas or in a combat zone when tax returns are due. This guide also provides military service members with information about tax-filing extensions, including who is eligible for an extension, how long an extension lasts, and how to get one.

Publication 3 does not cover benefits extended to veterans or military pensions. Those are covered in IRS Publication 525.