In a military PPM (Personally Procured Move, formerly called a DITY move), you are paid an incentive equal to 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) — what the government would have paid a contracted carrier to move your household goods. The GCC is driven by your authorized weight allowance (or your actual moved weight, whichever is lower) and the distance between duty stations. Service members commonly net $1,000-$8,000+ because the incentive usually exceeds the real cost of a DIY truck rental. The profit is taxable; separate travel allowances (per-mile and per-diem) are not.
"DITY" (Do-It-Yourself) is the legacy term; the military officially renamed it the Personally Procured Move (PPM) years ago. They mean the same thing: instead of having the government's contracted carrier pack and move your household goods, you handle the move yourself (rental truck, your own trailer, or even hiring your own movers) and get reimbursed. You can do a full PPM (move everything yourself) or a partial PPM (government moves most, you move some for extra incentive).
The reimbursement math has two completely separate parts:
| Component | What it is | Taxable? |
|---|---|---|
| PPM incentive payment | 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) for your weight & distance | Yes — but only the net profit after documented expenses |
| Mileage allowance (MALT) | Per-mile rate for driving your POV to the new duty station | No |
| Per diem | Daily lodging/meals allowance for you and dependents during travel | No |
| Dislocation Allowance (DLA) | Flat allowance to offset relocation costs (paid on most PCS moves) | No |
The incentive is the big number. The GCC is computed from government tariff rates that scale with your net weight (the household goods you actually moved, capped at your authorized allowance) and the distance between your old and new duty stations.
This educational estimator approximates your gross PPM incentive (100% of GCC) and your estimated taxable profit. Enter your moved weight, distance, and what you expect to spend on the DIY move. This is an estimate — your transportation office uses official rate tables for the binding figure.
Your authorized weight allowance depends on your pay grade and dependency status. These are representative JTR allowance figures for a PCS move; confirm your exact allowance with your transportation office.
| Pay grade | With dependents (lbs) | Without dependents (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-4 | 5,000-8,000 | 3,500-7,000 |
| E-5 | 9,000 | 7,000 |
| E-6 | 11,000 | 8,000 |
| E-7 | 13,000 | 11,000 |
| E-8 / E-9 | 14,000-15,000 | 12,000-13,000 |
| O-1 / W-1 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| O-3 / W-3 | 14,500 | 13,000 |
| O-5 | 17,000 | 16,000 |
| O-6 and above | 18,000 | 18,000 |
You are paid on the lower of your actual moved weight and your authorized allowance. Moving more than your allowance does not increase your incentive.
Staff Sergeant Lee is doing a full PPM with dependents, moving 8,000 lbs of household goods 1,200 miles. His authorized allowance is 11,000 lbs, so he is paid on the full 8,000 lbs actually moved.
| Item | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PPM incentive (100% of GCC) | ~8,000 lbs over 1,200 mi at government tariff | ~$8,500 |
| 26-ft truck one-way rental | DIY | −$1,900 |
| Fuel (~1,200 mi @ 9 mpg) | DIY | −$550 |
| Moving equipment, pads, dolly, boxes | DIY | −$450 |
| Weigh-station/scale fees | Two certified tickets | −$30 |
| Taxable profit | Incentive minus documented expenses | ~$5,570 |
| Plus non-taxable MALT mileage | POV drive allowance | + travel pay |
| Plus non-taxable per diem + DLA | For the SSgt and dependents | + travel pay |
SSgt Lee's roughly $5,570 profit is taxable, and the military typically withholds federal tax (often around 22 percent) from the profit at payout. His separate MALT mileage, per diem, and Dislocation Allowance are non-taxable and paid on top.
To reduce the taxable portion, document and subtract allowable PPM expenses:
Keep every receipt. Expenses you cannot document cannot reduce your taxable profit. The incentive minus documented allowable expenses equals the taxable amount.
Your reimbursement is impossible to calculate without certified weight tickets. You need:
Use any certified public scale — CAT scales at truck stops are widely used. Each ticket must show the date, your name, the vehicle/trailer, and the scale's certification. Submit them through your installation transportation office with your PPM claim.
The PPM incentive profit is taxable wages. Two important points:
The mileage allowance (MALT), per diem, and Dislocation Allowance are not taxable.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full PPM | You move 100% of your goods; paid up to 100% of GCC on net weight | Those who can handle the whole move and want maximum incentive |
| Partial PPM | Government carrier moves most goods; you move some (e.g., a trailer of valuables) for extra incentive | Large households who still want some DIY income |
| Government carrier (HHG) | Contracted movers do everything; no incentive payment | Those who prefer zero hassle and no DIY labor |
The decision between a PPM and a government-arranged HHG move comes down to how much effort you want to trade for the incentive payment. A quick comparison:
| Factor | PPM (DITY) | Government HHG move |
|---|---|---|
| Incentive payment | Yes — 100% of GCC (taxable profit) | No payment |
| Who does the labor | You (or movers you hire) | Government-contracted carrier |
| Schedule control | High — you set the pace | Lower — carrier's pickup/delivery window |
| Effort & stress | High | Low |
| Damage liability | Mostly yours | Carrier liability rules apply |
| Best for | Smaller, organized households who want the cash | Large households who want zero hassle |
Many service members do a partial PPM to get the best of both: the government carrier moves the bulk of the household, while you move a trailer of high-value or sentimental items yourself for a smaller, lower-risk incentive. This caps your effort while still earning some profit.
Understanding the sequence helps you avoid the delays that frustrate most first-time PPM movers:
You are paid an incentive equal to 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) — what the government would have paid a contracted carrier. The GCC is based on your authorized weight allowance (or actual moved weight, whichever is lower) and the distance between duty stations, using government tariff rates. Your taxable profit is the incentive minus documented expenses; you also receive separate non-taxable mileage and per-diem allowances.
It varies, but service members commonly net $1,000-$8,000+ because the 100% incentive usually exceeds DIY truck and fuel costs. Moving 8,000 lbs 1,200 miles might generate roughly $7,000-$10,000 in incentive against $2,500-$4,000 in actual costs. Heavier shipments over longer distances produce the largest profits.
The incentive is taxable, but only the net profit after subtracting documented allowable expenses (truck, fuel, equipment, weigh fees). Keep every receipt. The separate mileage allowance, per diem, and Dislocation Allowance are non-taxable. Active-duty military moving on PCS orders keep the moving-expense deduction (Form 3903) that most civilians lost in 2018.
They are the same thing. DITY (Do-It-Yourself) is the older term; the military renamed it Personally Procured Move (PPM). In both, you move some or all of your goods yourself instead of using the government's contracted carrier and are reimbursed up to 100% of the government's constructed cost.
You need two certified tickets: empty (tare) weight with no goods, and full (gross) weight loaded. Net weight = gross minus tare, and that is what you're paid on. Use any certified public scale (CAT scales at truck stops are common); each ticket must show date, your name, the vehicle, and the scale's certification. Submit them with your claim through your installation transportation office. Without valid tickets, your reimbursement cannot be calculated.