BAH and BAS Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BAH II or OHA?

Guard and Reserve members on short tours receive BAH II, a single national rate; overseas members receive OHA, reimbursed for actual rent up to a published ceiling.

Do barracks residents receive BAH?

Single members assigned to barracks receive only Partial BAH ($24-$50/month) because housing is provided in kind.

What about high-cost areas?

CONUS COLA supplements pay where BAH alone falls short, such as San Francisco, Honolulu, and the DC area.

Are BAH and BAS taxed?

No - both BAH and BAS are excluded from federal gross income under 37 U.S.C., making them among the most valuable parts of military compensation.

When does BAH change?

BAH rates are recalculated annually and take effect on January 1. Members already drawing BAH are rate-protected against downward changes at their current station.

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Estimates for informational purposes only.

Important Disclaimer: Estimates for informational purposes only.

This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

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How It Works

This tool estimates your two largest tax-free military allowances - Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) - from your pay grade, dependency status, and duty-station cost tier. BAH is set annually by DoD from a rental survey targeting the 75th percentile of local rent plus utilities. Because the allowances are non-taxable, the calculator also shows the equivalent pre-tax salary they represent.

BAH rates reset every January 1 based on updated housing surveys. Without-dependent rates run about 88% of the with-dependent rate. BAS in 2026 is $483.16/month for enlisted members and $336.61 for officers and warrant officers, reflecting the updated subsistence cost index.

Eligibility

BAH is paid to service members who are not provided government housing. BAS is paid to virtually all active-duty members regardless of whether they eat at a dining facility.

BAH requires that you are not assigned to government quarters.

Without-dependent BAH applies to single members living off-post.

Reserve and Guard members on 30+ day active orders receive full BAH.

Members in barracks receive only Partial BAH ($24-$50/month).

BAS is universal - dining facility use does not reduce or eliminate it.

Tips

Maximize the value of your tax-free allowances with these strategies:

Always gross up BAH and BAS when comparing military compensation to civilian salary - a $30,000 annual allowance package is worth roughly $37,500 of taxable salary in the 20% bracket.

BAH is rate-protected: if your installation's local BAH drops after you arrive, you keep the higher rate as long as you stay put and your status does not change.

Getting married or having a child changes your dependency status and can increase BAH at any point in the year - update your records in DEERS promptly.

If both spouses are active duty, only one member draws BAH with dependents; the other draws without-dependent BAH.

Look up exact BAH rates for your ZIP code on the DFAS BAH calculator rather than relying on tier estimates.

FAQ