Will Clothing Allowance be adjusted?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:25:36 -0500

Now that we can no longer write off work related expenses according to new tax laws... Will Congress/DFAS/whoever be changing the amount of the clothing allowance. Clothing allowance is designed for maintenance and upkeep of our uniforms. Over the past decade and a half most have had to use it to purchase the new uniforms that seem to come out every few years. We have been able to write off those expenses until now. But with new tax laws we can not. So since Clothing allowance is not adequate for the maintenance and additional need of new uniforms. Is there any plan to increase it. I am aware that Commissioned Officers do not get clothing allowance. But previous to this there were allowed to write all of those related expenses off.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 9 at 2019 7:46 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:46:22 -0500

Other than standard increases (inflation), I would expect not. They use the traditional phase out plan in most cases. Unfortunately, if a Service gets "swap happy" with changes this creates an undue burden on Service Members (specifically senior career level ones).

It's usually not an issue, as each Service controls their own uniforms, but.... there can be a disproportionate impact if one specific Service realized that the uniforms are meeting the intended purpose (looking at you Army & Navy). All that said, the new greens won't be fielded until 2020 and won't be mandatory until 2028, which is designed to lessen the impact.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2019 8:27 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 08:27:27 -0500

DFAS doesn't approve military pay raises, that is Congress.
Business-related expenses were only deductible if they were not reimbursed.
Clothing allowance is not taxable and is a reimbursement for uniform item purchases, so the amount that was deductible was the amount that you spent on uniform items over your clothing allowance.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2019 2:51 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 14:51:28 -0500

Although you were able to write those expenses off the majority of people ended up taking the standard deductions because it would have been higher than the itemized deductions. You are correct about the removal of some of those itemized deductions. However, the standard deduction increased and may not make much of a difference depending on individual situations.