The calculator combines current public military-pay sources with user-entered LES deductions and expenses, while labeling the assumptions that remain simplified or member-specific.
Reviewed August 12, 2026
Basic pay and BAS are modeled from 2026 public pay tables. BAH is requested from the official DTMO service using duty ZIP, rank, BAH year, and dependent status.
When DTMO identifies the Abilene and Dyess AFB area as MHA TX270, the calculator applies the published temporary 2026 table for its official effective period.
The local API validates inputs, caches successful DTMO responses, times out slow upstream requests, and can return a stale cached result when an earlier verified response is available.
No-BAH mode sets BAH income to zero while still counting rent and housing expenses. BAH rate protection is not calculated because it depends on a member-specific prior rate and eligibility status.
Federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax are simplified estimates. Each line can be replaced with the current monthly LES amount. Legal residence is entered separately from duty ZIP because military tax residence and assignment location are different concepts.
TSP contributions remain deductions in monthly cash flow. Long-term projections use selected fund assumptions and standard BRS matching rules, not guaranteed investment returns or an individual eligibility determination.
Monthly surplus and the downloadable money overview are calculated from entitlements, LES-style deductions and allotments, bills, and active form values. The calculator logic is covered by automated tests and release smoke checks.
Time-sensitive source pages are dated and reviewed when official 2026 material changes. Corrections are evaluated against a public primary source before the calculation or explanatory content is updated.
The calculator does not replace payroll systems, determine entitlement, validate legal residence, model every state or local tax exception, or forecast investment performance.
Use the output to prepare questions and compare scenarios, then verify the final decision with official records and qualified assistance.