DITY Move Calculator

A DITY (Do-It-Yourself) move, now officially called a Personally Procured Move (PPM), is a military relocation option where service members arrange and execute their own household goods shipment instead of using a government-contracted moving company. The military reimburses the service member up to 95% of what it would have cost the government to hire professional movers. The difference between the reimbursement and your actual moving expenses is your profit to keep, though it is taxable income.

DITY/PPM move payments are calculated as 95% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what the military would have paid a contracted moving company. The exact amount depends on the weight of your shipment, the distance of the move, and current contracted rates. For example, a 5,000 lb move over 1,000 miles might pay approximately $4,000-6,000, though actual rates vary. Many service members profit $1,000-5,000 or more by moving themselves, especially on longer moves.

Weight allowances are set by the Joint Travel Regulations based on pay grade and dependent status. E-1 to E-4 without dependents get 5,000 lbs (8,000 with dependents). E-5 to E-6 get 7,000/11,000 lbs. E-7 to E-9 get 11,000/13,000 lbs. O-1 to O-3 get 10,000/12,000 lbs. O-4 to O-6 get 14,000/17,000 lbs. O-7 and above get 18,000 lbs regardless of dependent status. You are responsible for any costs associated with shipping weight above your allowance.

Yes, any PPM incentive payment that exceeds your actual, documented moving expenses is considered taxable income by the IRS. For example, if you receive $5,000 from your PPM and spend $3,000 on truck rental, fuel, and packing supplies, the $2,000 difference is taxable. You will receive a W-2 for the total payment and can deduct qualifying expenses when filing your taxes. Keep all receipts for truck rental, fuel, tolls, packing materials, and storage.

You must obtain certified weight tickets at a public scale (CAT scale, truck stop, or recycling center). Weigh the vehicle loaded with your household goods (full weight) and then again after unloading (empty/tare weight). The difference is your net shipment weight. You need both a full and empty weight ticket for reimbursement — DFAS will not process your claim without them. Many truck rental companies can direct you to nearby certified scales. Keep the original tickets as documentation.

Yes, you can do a partial PPM where you move some items yourself and have the government move the rest through a Household Goods (HHG) shipment. This is common when service members want to move high-value or time-sensitive items themselves while having heavier furniture shipped commercially. Your PPM reimbursement is based only on the weight you transport yourself. The combined weight of your PPM and HHG shipments cannot exceed your total weight allowance.

Qualifying expenses for tax deduction purposes include truck or trailer rental, fuel costs, tolls, packing materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap), temporary storage (up to 90 days), insurance for the move, weight ticket fees, and meals during travel (at the per diem rate or actual cost). You cannot deduct costs for items you would have purchased anyway, such as permanent storage or home improvements at your new location. Document everything with receipts and keep a detailed moving expense log.

You must file your PPM claim with the finance office within 45 days of your report date at your new duty station. However, it is strongly recommended to file within the first week to avoid delays. You will need your PCS orders, certified weight tickets (full and empty), receipts for all moving expenses, and a completed DD Form 2278 (or equivalent service-specific form). Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks after submission, with payment deposited directly to your bank account.

There is no practical difference — PPM (Personally Procured Move) is simply the new official name for what was previously called a DITY (Do-It-Yourself) move. The name was changed in 2018 to better reflect that the program is a procurement of moving services by the individual service member. The program rules, benefits, and reimbursement structure remain the same under both names. Many service members and military communities still use the term DITY colloquially.

Yes, portable moving containers (such as PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, or U-Pack) are an approved method for PPM moves. You load the container, the company transports it, and you unload at your destination. This option can be more cost-effective than renting a truck for long-distance moves since you avoid fuel costs and driving stress. You still need certified weight tickets — most container companies can provide documentation of your shipment weight for your PPM claim.