MilTax: free tax filing for service members, families, and recent veterans

What MilTax is

MilTax is a Department of Defense program delivered through Military OneSource. It pairs guided tax-preparation software with human tax-consultant support. The software handles federal and up to 5 state returns. The phone support is available year-round, not only during the active filing season. There is no income limit, and the program is purpose-built around the realities of military service: combat pay exclusions, deployment extensions, PCS-related multi-state filing, rental-property income from a home not sold during a PCS move.

MilTax is not a commercial product with a military discount. It is a DoD program. There is no upsell, no add-on, no paid tier. The product opens for the season in mid-January, closes for new submissions in mid-October (after the extended deadline), and the consultant phone line stays open year-round.

Who is eligible

Eligibility is verified through DEERS. The covered groups are broader than many filers expect.

• Active-duty service members in all branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard.
• National Guard and reserve members, regardless of activation status.
• Eligible family members (spouses, dependents) of covered service members.
• Survivors of a deceased service member.
• Recent veterans within 365 days of separation or retirement.
• Certain other categories, including medically retired members and Department of Defense civilian deployees in some cases. Verify eligibility through Military OneSource.

What MilTax covers

The software handles a wider range of returns than most tax filers encounter, with special attention to scenarios that are common in military life.

• Federal Form 1040 with full schedule support (Schedules 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D, E, SE, plus most form attachments).
• Up to 5 state returns, which is enough to cover the typical PCS-driven multi-state year.
• Combat pay exclusions, with the EITC-elective option for enlisted members where it increases the credit.
• Deployment time extensions, including the 180-day automatic extension after a combat zone deployment.
• PCS-related rental-property income from a home not sold during a relocation.
• Multi-state residency apportionment for filers who lived in more than one state during the year.

How to access MilTax

1. Go to Military OneSource. Bookmark militaryonesource.mil.
2. Navigate to Tax Services / MilTax. The link rotates slightly between filing seasons; the Tax Services hub is the stable entry point.
3. Sign in or create an account. A DoD Self-Service (DS Logon), military email, or Military OneSource account works. Eligibility is verified against DEERS.
4. Open the MilTax software. Follow the guided interview through federal first, then states. The software flags military-specific situations as you encounter them.
5. Use the consultant line if needed. 800-342-9647. Especially useful for combat pay, deployment-extension questions, and multi-state apportionment.
6. E-file. The software submits federal directly to the IRS and each state to the appropriate Department of Revenue.

MilTax versus IRS Free File, for those who qualify for both

A service member with AGI under $89,000 has both options available. MilTax usually wins.

For service members and recent veterans, MilTax is a better fit on every dimension that matters in military filing. Free File is the fallback if MilTax is not available for some reason (a separation more than 365 days ago, for example, where MilTax eligibility has lapsed but Free File AGI eligibility is still intact).

MilTax versus commercial military discounts

Some commercial tax-preparation products offer "military free" tiers. These vary year to year, often have rules (rank-based, return-complexity-based) that exclude many filers, and may include paid add-ons or a paid state return that erode the discount. We do not name commercial products on this site as a matter of editorial policy.

The simple comparison: MilTax has one set of rules, no commercial marketing layer, and is free for all the groups listed above. Commercial military free tiers vary; if you find one that genuinely suits your return better, fine, but MilTax is the default.

For families and survivors

Surviving spouses and dependents of a deceased service member are eligible. The phone consultants are particularly useful in the year following a death because the return often combines income and deductions for the deceased member, the survivor benefits, and any estate-related reporting. Calling 800-342-9647 before starting the return is reasonable for any unusual situation.