Posted on Nov 26, 2025
If DFAS garnishes your wages for Travel Debt does the money go to your citibank account to pay off your GTCC?
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In September, I went on TDY and got back with only a week left in the fiscal year. I'm AGR, and in my BN, the MILTECHs managed the funding and didn't approve my voucher in time, although I submitted well in advance. I also got an extra day due to maintenance issues with my connecting flight. Because of that my voucher was more than the authorization with a hotel and extra per diem. I waited and waited for the government to reopen so my unit could pay off my voucher, but then it rolls around and I asked about and they said to wait a little longer. So now its this month and I notice that my pending deposit is $198 less than what it is supposed to. I got to DFAS and see a Travel Debt added to the deductions for that amount. Now it is Christmas coming up, and I have had several gift purchases as well as other large purchases, such as snow tires. That $198 isn't going to sink me because I've saved over the years to build a large rainy-day fund, but I don't like drawing from my savings if I don't have to. I also have rent coming at the first of the month because I live off base due to the housing situation where I'm stationed, so it's not like I can live like a barracks Spartan that just stops spending money. Also, I called Citibank on the 14th of this month after the government reopened and asked them what the due date was, and they said I had 30 days after the shutdown.
So, finally getting to the question: is $198 going to be taken by DFAS and paid to my CitiBank account to pay down my card debt, and can I get that money on the back end through a refund from CitiBank? If it doesn't go to the most logical place imaginable, then where would that money go? Is there anyway in getting that money back? Would I have to file a complaint against DFAS through IG if they are unwilling to assist in telling me what they are doing with my money? If my unit refuses to pay off my voucher, is that grounds for an IG complaint? I have many of these questions keeping me up tonight in anger over a trigger of counting on my coming paycheck in this more expensive time of the year only to see it reduced?
So, finally getting to the question: is $198 going to be taken by DFAS and paid to my CitiBank account to pay down my card debt, and can I get that money on the back end through a refund from CitiBank? If it doesn't go to the most logical place imaginable, then where would that money go? Is there anyway in getting that money back? Would I have to file a complaint against DFAS through IG if they are unwilling to assist in telling me what they are doing with my money? If my unit refuses to pay off my voucher, is that grounds for an IG complaint? I have many of these questions keeping me up tonight in anger over a trigger of counting on my coming paycheck in this more expensive time of the year only to see it reduced?
DTS
Military Pay
Military Pay Technician
Posted 9 d ago
Responses: 2
First, I applaud you for recognizing the need for a rainy-day fund. You won't believe how many people assume that they will never run into a situation where they are in a bind because money that was supposed to come in doesn't arrive in a timely manner.
To answer the question – No, travel debts from DFAS are not for your Government Travel Credit Card (GTCC) bill, they are debts owed to the government. A travel debt is for money you were paid by the government that is being recouped because you received an overpayment, an advanced payment for a trip that was canceled, or a post-payment review of a previous voucher determined that you were paid for things that you shouldn't have been (unauthorized payment).
Bottom line - a DTS travel debt is for money you were already paid but weren't eligible for and not pending or overdue charges on your GTCC.
Go back to your DTS account and review previous vouchers (look at the financial summary screen) and you'll be able to find out which one is causing your travel debt.
As a side note, although it's not the culprit of your situation, payments on a GTCC are your responsibility as the card holder, not the government's. Regardless if the processing of your voucher is quick enough to cover the split payment or not, you're on the hook for missed payments, so when the bill becomes due, you need to pay it regardless of that status of your voucher (although they recommend you do it so the voucher will pay the bill, my 'school of hard knocks' lesson was to pay the bill myself and get reimbursed when the voucher cleared).
To your question about the IG. If your unit is not processing vouchers in a timely manner, it is a systemic problem, and you've already discussed it with your leadership and nothing has changed, then yes it falls into the category of something the IG might be willing to listen to. If it's something that was affected by events (such as the shutdown), but otherwise it's not an issue, then no.
However, if you haven't discussed it with your unit leadership, then you'll be referred back to them to take action first.
To answer the question – No, travel debts from DFAS are not for your Government Travel Credit Card (GTCC) bill, they are debts owed to the government. A travel debt is for money you were paid by the government that is being recouped because you received an overpayment, an advanced payment for a trip that was canceled, or a post-payment review of a previous voucher determined that you were paid for things that you shouldn't have been (unauthorized payment).
Bottom line - a DTS travel debt is for money you were already paid but weren't eligible for and not pending or overdue charges on your GTCC.
Go back to your DTS account and review previous vouchers (look at the financial summary screen) and you'll be able to find out which one is causing your travel debt.
As a side note, although it's not the culprit of your situation, payments on a GTCC are your responsibility as the card holder, not the government's. Regardless if the processing of your voucher is quick enough to cover the split payment or not, you're on the hook for missed payments, so when the bill becomes due, you need to pay it regardless of that status of your voucher (although they recommend you do it so the voucher will pay the bill, my 'school of hard knocks' lesson was to pay the bill myself and get reimbursed when the voucher cleared).
To your question about the IG. If your unit is not processing vouchers in a timely manner, it is a systemic problem, and you've already discussed it with your leadership and nothing has changed, then yes it falls into the category of something the IG might be willing to listen to. If it's something that was affected by events (such as the shutdown), but otherwise it's not an issue, then no.
However, if you haven't discussed it with your unit leadership, then you'll be referred back to them to take action first.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
While it is possible for personnel at BN level to approve a travel authorization. (this is really a BDE responsibility), vouchers are typically approved at your USPFO at state level, which means the typical wait time is 7-14 days, and typically longer than that in the remaining weeks of an FY.
A DFAS deduction from your pay for a travel debt means that someone found an overpayment in a previously approved voucher.
You should have received several automated emails about that when they started and completed that action.
If you look through your vouchers in DTS, there would be a voucher ending in -01 or -02 after the _V01, that means it was amended. One might have been amended for a debt, such as overpayment between SPPs and final payment, or a lodging or rental car receipt that shows a lower final charge than the original expense.
A DFAS deduction from your pay for a travel debt means that someone found an overpayment in a previously approved voucher.
You should have received several automated emails about that when they started and completed that action.
If you look through your vouchers in DTS, there would be a voucher ending in -01 or -02 after the _V01, that means it was amended. One might have been amended for a debt, such as overpayment between SPPs and final payment, or a lodging or rental car receipt that shows a lower final charge than the original expense.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
When It Comes To PERSONAL Finances Here's What I Read In A Book Written By Dale Carnegie Decades Ago - In The 1930's-- And Still Applies Today.
#1.. "Pay Yourself 1st - Place 10% Of Your Gross Earning Into A Saving Account For Investments And Retirement. -
#2.. Place Another Equal Amount Of 10% Into A Separate Saving Account For Emergencies Or Purchases Of Things You May Wish To Buy. aka "Fun Money". ....
--- Now You May Pay Your Bills & Do As You Wish With The Monies Left Over -- Some Will Say "I Don't Earn Enough To Do That", BUT If You Look At Your Spending Habits You'll Discover Where Your Money IS Going & Possibly Waisted. -- Even What Seems Minor, Like Swinging By Star Bucks Every Morning On Your Way To Work For A Cup Of Coffee, CAN And WILL Have Cost You $100.00's Of Your Dollars Over A Period Of Just 1 Year. --
-- As Is Said: "Do The Math And Count The Dollars"-- And That's Just For A Cup Of Coffee
#1.. "Pay Yourself 1st - Place 10% Of Your Gross Earning Into A Saving Account For Investments And Retirement. -
#2.. Place Another Equal Amount Of 10% Into A Separate Saving Account For Emergencies Or Purchases Of Things You May Wish To Buy. aka "Fun Money". ....
--- Now You May Pay Your Bills & Do As You Wish With The Monies Left Over -- Some Will Say "I Don't Earn Enough To Do That", BUT If You Look At Your Spending Habits You'll Discover Where Your Money IS Going & Possibly Waisted. -- Even What Seems Minor, Like Swinging By Star Bucks Every Morning On Your Way To Work For A Cup Of Coffee, CAN And WILL Have Cost You $100.00's Of Your Dollars Over A Period Of Just 1 Year. --
-- As Is Said: "Do The Math And Count The Dollars"-- And That's Just For A Cup Of Coffee
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COL Randall C.
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - That is a good formula to use as well (lots of variations out there ... pick your poison on which you want to follow).
My experience from counseling Soldiers and others about financial issues is that one truism exists - you don't miss what you don't have. That's why I subscribed to the "pay me now, pay me later" approach I was introduced to when I was a young shavetail (Thank you Charle, wherever you are!).
If you get an extra $100 a month (or $50, $20, $10, etc.) and use half of it as a 'pay me now' and the other half as a 'pay me later', then you get to enjoy some extra funds for the present and put funds you won't miss (because you never were using them) away for the future.
That works great in the military because you get a pay bump every year (COLA), whenever you get promoted, and (frequently) every two years you've been in the service.
My experience from counseling Soldiers and others about financial issues is that one truism exists - you don't miss what you don't have. That's why I subscribed to the "pay me now, pay me later" approach I was introduced to when I was a young shavetail (Thank you Charle, wherever you are!).
If you get an extra $100 a month (or $50, $20, $10, etc.) and use half of it as a 'pay me now' and the other half as a 'pay me later', then you get to enjoy some extra funds for the present and put funds you won't miss (because you never were using them) away for the future.
That works great in the military because you get a pay bump every year (COLA), whenever you get promoted, and (frequently) every two years you've been in the service.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
COL Randall C. -
LMBO-- That Was Also In The Book - How Coincidental !!
- And Money Makes More Money -Which Makes More Money Too.-
LMBO-- That Was Also In The Book - How Coincidental !!
- And Money Makes More Money -Which Makes More Money Too.-
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I still wonder how the GTC is a good deal for either the Soldier or the Army. If a Soldier had the money to go on a TDY or PCS move to begin with, they would not need the card. If the card is how the Army provides for the Soldier for covered expenses, then why does the Army expect the Soldier to pay the bill before the TDY settlement is paid? In most cases the Soldier does not have the money to cover those expenses upfront.
It seems to me that the only people that this is a good deal for are the Credit Card company.
It seems to me that the only people that this is a good deal for are the Credit Card company.
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COL Randall C.
The government doesn't expect the traveler to pay the bill before the TDY settlement is paid (with the GTCC, the billing cycle is 60 days, not 30 days like the typical credit card). The government expects that the Soldier will submit the voucher in a timely manner (within five working days) and that the approval chain will also likewise action it in a timely manner.
As usual, the key point of failure is getting people to do what they are supposed to do.
As usual, the key point of failure is getting people to do what they are supposed to do.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
COL Randall C. -
" the key point of failure is getting people to do what they are supposed to do."
Probably Do As I Do - Scream, Bitch & Complain - And That Doesn't Work Either. (:--)>
" the key point of failure is getting people to do what they are supposed to do."
Probably Do As I Do - Scream, Bitch & Complain - And That Doesn't Work Either. (:--)>
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SGM Mikel Dawson
COL Randall C. - I understand the difference between 30 and 60 days payment, BUT, as far as I was concerned, I never seen the advantage of the GTCC. I was on duty when they first came out, and never used it. My personal CC was always paid with in 30 days, so never incurred interest charges. Yes I can see where the 60 days can come in handy to those who don't plan ahead for the charges(emergency fund). I got called in once and asked why I didn't use it, I then asked why I should, what was the advantage of it. I received the "official" answer, but in the end it was no advantage to me, just another credit card to keep track of. Like I said, for the young SM or the one who has money problems, the extra time with no interest is good.
I also seen where the GTCC was getting too much "personal" use, getting maxed out on charges where weren't suppose to be.
I also seen where the GTCC was getting too much "personal" use, getting maxed out on charges where weren't suppose to be.
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COL Randall C.
SGM Mikel Dawson - Can't disagree. I did use it occasionally while traveling, but only for transportation (when it wasn't centrally billed) and (rarely) for lodging (every now and then I would run into a hotel that wouldn't given the negotiated rate unless it was on the GTCC). Other that that, my experiences echo yours.
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