Deployment Pay Calculator
See how much more you take home during a deployment — HFP, tax exclusion, Family Separation Allowance, and SDP growth in one view.
Enter your rank, location, and deployment length
See combat zone pay, tax savings, and SDP growth
Calculate your total deployment financial impact
E-5 · 6 yrs · 6-mo combat zone · w/dep
Total impact: $5,590
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
Annual additions limit: $72,000/yr (Roth capped at $24,500 — excess goes traditional)
Available after 30+ days in combat zone
Maximum deposit: $10,000
How Much More Does an E-5 Take Home on a 9-Month Combat Zone Deployment?
Scenario: E-5, 8 years of service, married (family at Fort Bragg, NC), deploying to a designated Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) area for 9 months. Receives HFP/IDP and Family Separation Allowance. No Hardship Duty Pay. 2026 rates.
What this means: This E-5 takes home $859 more per month during the deployment — and because family expenses typically drop while a spouse is deployed (one fewer car, shared housing costs), many families can bank $1,000–$2,000+ per month. Over 9 months the CZTE alone saves $3,009 in federal income taxes. Combat-zone pay may be excluded from federal income tax. Roth TSP contributions from that pay can create a powerful combination: excluded from tax going in, and qualified withdrawals may also be tax-free if Roth rules are met — making deployment a significant opportunity for long-term TSP growth.
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 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 total annual additions limit (IRC § 415(c)) rises from $24,500 to $72,000 in 2026. This allows higher overall contributions to TSP from tax-exempt combat-zone pay.
Important: Roth TSP contributions remain capped at the $24,500 elective deferral limit — even in a combat zone. Contributions above $24,500 from tax-exempt combat-zone pay go into the traditional tax-exempt portion of TSP, not Roth. You cannot contribute $72,000 to Roth TSP.
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: IRC § 415(c) total additions limit $72,000 in combat zones; Roth TSP elective deferral (IRC § 402(g)) remains capped at $24,500. 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.
Want updated numbers when 2027 rates drop?
Updates when pay tables, BAH rates, or tools change. No spam.
We'll only email you when official rates change or new tools launch. Unsubscribe anytime.