Guide · 4 min read · Updated October 9, 2026
PPM Move Calculator: How Your Military PPM Payment Is Figured
A military spouse's walk-through of how a PPM incentive is calculated and what you actually keep after expenses and taxes.
The short answer
A military PPM (Personally Procured Move, once called a DITY move) pays 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what the government would have paid a moving company to move the weight you actually moved, capped at your weight allowance. You keep what's left after your moving expenses, minus taxes, so your real number depends on certified weight tickets, your receipts, and your official estimate from DPS or your transportation office.
As a military family, there's one PCS question we hear every time orders drop: "Is it worth it?" The honest answer is that it depends on your numbers. Here's how those numbers work.
What is a PPM move?
A PPM (Personally Procured Move) is a military do-it-yourself move, where you move your own household goods (HHG) with a rental truck, trailer, portable container, your own vehicle, or a mover you hire yourself. It used to be called a DITY move.
You can do a full PPM or a partial PPM, where the government moves most of your things and you move the rest.
How is the PPM incentive calculated?
A member-elected PPM pays 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) for the weight you actually move, up to your authorized weight allowance, per Military OneSource and branch PPM guides.
- GCC: what the government would have paid its contracted moving company to move the same weight the same distance.
- Weight: proven with your weight tickets, capped at the allowance on your orders.
- Distance: your authorized origin and destination, not the scenic route.
If you move for less than the incentive, you keep the difference, minus taxes.
What are the 4 lines of PPM math?
What you keep from a PPM comes down to four lines. We call it the LAND + HOME 4-line PPM math:
| Line | What it is | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Incentive | 100% of the GCC for your actual weight | DPS estimate, then final settlement |
| 2. Expenses | Truck, gas, tolls, supplies, scale fees, hired labor | Your receipts |
| 3. Taxes | Withheld on the incentive above your expenses | Finance office |
| 4. What you keep | Line 1 minus lines 2 and 3 | Your bank account |
Example (hypothetical numbers only): Your estimate says the incentive is $6,000. You spend $1,800 on a truck, $400 on gas, $200 on boxes and tape, and $30 on scale tickets, for $2,430 in expenses. About $3,570 is left as taxable profit, and taxes come out of that. Your real figures will be different, so get your own estimate.
What expenses count against a PPM?
PPM operating expenses are the costs of actually moving your things. The Marine Corps' 2024 PPM handout lists:
- Rental trucks, trailers, and other moving equipment
- Packing materials: boxes, tape, wrap, totes
- Gas, oil, and tolls
- Weight ticket fees
- Hired labor to pack, load, or unload
Expenses aren't paid back dollar for dollar on top of the incentive. They lower the taxable part of it. Keep every receipt.
What do I need to know about weight tickets?
Weight tickets are the most important paperwork in a PPM, because they prove the weight you're paid for.
- Get an empty and a full ticket from a certified scale for each vehicle and each trip.
- Tickets should show your name and identify the vehicle. Some services also require tickets dated on or after your orders.
- Without proper tickets, you're generally limited to actual costs with receipts, which wipes out the incentive.
Using a container company or hiring movers? Make sure they'll give you weight tickets before you book.
Can I get an advance, and how are taxes handled?
Many branches allow a PPM advance of up to 60% of the estimated incentive, per branch PPM guides like the Marine Corps' 2024 handout. It helps with the truck and supplies before the money comes in. If your final incentive comes in lower, for example because the truck weighed less than you guessed, you'll owe the difference.
The incentive is paid minus applicable taxes. IRS Form 3903 instructions (2025) say reimbursements above your actual moving expenses go in your W-2 wages. Ask your finance office about withholding, and talk to a tax pro if you're unsure.
Settle quickly. The Marine Corps' 2024 handout gives Marines 45 days to submit a completed PPM to avoid collection action. Check your own branch's deadline.
Where do I get an official PPM estimate?
Your official PPM estimate comes from the Defense Personal Property System (DPS), after you create your PPM shipment and complete counseling, or from your local transportation office. Start at Military OneSource, which links to DPS and walks through the forms (DD 2278 and DD 3166).
Online "PPM calculators" can give you a ballpark, but rates, distance, and weight rules change. Use the official estimate for decisions.
Planning the whole move? Our PCS checklist covers the timeline, and how much it costs to move helps you price the truck.
The bottom line
A PPM pays 100% of the GCC for the weight you prove, and you keep what's left after expenses and taxes. Get the official estimate, guard your weight tickets and receipts, and run the 4-line math before you commit. Rules vary by branch and change, so confirm everything with your transportation and finance offices.
Common questions
How is a PPM payment calculated?
For a member-elected PPM, the incentive is 100% of the Government Constructed Cost for the weight you actually move, up to your weight allowance, based on your authorized origin and destination. Your expenses are subtracted from the taxable part, and taxes are withheld from the rest.
Is a PPM incentive taxable?
Yes. The incentive is paid minus applicable taxes, and receipts for your moving expenses offset the taxable portion. IRS instructions say reimbursements above your actual moving expenses are included in your W-2 wages.
Do I need weight tickets for a PPM?
Yes. You need an empty and a full weight ticket from a certified scale for each vehicle and each trip. Without proper tickets you are generally limited to reimbursement of actual costs with receipts.
Can I get a PPM advance?
Many branches allow an advance of up to 60% of the estimated incentive. Rules vary by branch, so ask your transportation or finance office. An advance that turns out higher than your final incentive has to be paid back.
Where do I get an official PPM estimate?
Create your PPM shipment in the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) and complete counseling, or ask your local transportation office. Online PPM calculators are only rough guesses.
When you're ready for the next step
Keep reading
PCS Checklist: A Military Move Timeline From Orders to ArrivalA PCS move checklist in timeline order, from the day orders arrive to your first month at the new duty station.
How Much Does It Cost to Move? A Simple Moving Cost CalculatorLocal and long-distance moving costs, movers vs. DIY, and the hidden line items that blow up a moving budget.