What is the math equation for selling leave days back to the army?

2020-02-26T01:42:13-05:00

What formula do I use to see how much I will get back for selling my leave days for an ETS

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 26 at 2020 1:51 AM

2020-02-26T01:51:44-05:00

You take your base pay, without BAH, BAS, BAQ, Jump pay, combat pay etc and divide by 30. Then take that number and multiply by the number of legally allowable days you want to sell back.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 8:59 AM

2020-02-26T08:59:33-05:00

If you’re ETS’ing why would you sell leave? Just take it as terminal leave and then you get BAH/BAS if you’re eligible

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 9:10 AM

2020-02-26T09:10:25-05:00

Not as much as if you took the leave.

Response by Landrew Usoalii S. made Feb 26 at 2020 9:11 AM

2020-02-26T09:11:12-05:00

in simple terms, you would lose $ if/when you sell your leave. Better off take all your days and get your $$$$

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 26 at 2020 11:47 AM

2020-02-26T11:47:18-05:00

Is there a reason you are wanting to sell your leave back rather than just take it? By selling it back you actually lose money. Sure you get a lump sum up front once you sign the dotted line and finish out processing but consider this instead.

Let's say you have 45 days accrued at the point where you decide you want to get out of the ARMY. You could sell it all and get a lump sum but it would be devoid of BAH, BAQ, BAS and any other extras.

Or, you take those 45 days. This means that all during that time, YOUR time, not the Army's you get paid just like you are now. You get your paychecks coming in and it allows that you can relax or go start another job as a civilian and get two streams of income. Additionally, you are earning extra days that apply at the end of your ETS leave time.

It's all in what you want to do here. You are getting out, make the Army work for you, not the other way around.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 1:11 PM

2020-02-26T13:11:59-05:00

There are very narrow cases where it is to your advantage to sell leave vs taking it. For example, taxes payable in your current location vs where you are moving to. Perhaps end of tax year considerations, or where most of the year was spent in a tax exclusion zone. But outside of that, you will make far more money, especially if you get BAH now, if you take the leave vs selling it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 6:44 PM

2020-02-26T18:44:50-05:00

Dont forget to take out taxes!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 3:29 PM

2020-02-27T15:29:26-05:00

Exactly if you can get them place you on terminal leave that is best option... I had to cash in 49 days of earned leave when I was attached to a AC unit in support of OIF/OEF and I was supposed to get another set of orders that were right at the end of these orders for my next overseas deployment with my Guard unit. I literally was promised this would occur right up to 4 days prior when I was told nope you have to out process and they could not place me on terminal leave based on type of orders I was on. This sucked as approx 20 days later my next official deployment orders came. Not only did I lose out on the BAH and other perks that could have enjoyed with the terminal leave. It was during the period with deployments to Iraq so this break in service costed me some additional leave that I could had at the end of that tour along with I lost out on getting my pension another 6 months earlier when I am able to draw the benefits. Now that I am looking at my projected monthly retirement amount , that 6 months really tossed more salt in a wound that was somewhat healed. Remember to take your earned leave never unless you are in a situation like I was in should you be faced to cash out leave.