Find out how much tax-free housing allowance you could receive every month. Select your rank and duty station below.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a tax-free monthly payment the military gives you to cover your housing costs when you live off-base. It's one of the biggest financial benefits available to servicemembers — and it's money that goes straight into your pocket, tax-free.
Your BAH amount depends on three things: your pay grade (rank), your duty station location (or your dependent's US location if you're overseas), and whether you have dependents. If you're married, you automatically get the "with dependents" rate — which is significantly higher.
Here's the thing most people in the barracks don't realize: if you're single with no dependents, you're getting $0 in BAH. The military houses you in the barracks and considers that your housing benefit. But the moment you're married, you're entitled to move off-base and receive BAH to pay for your own place — or your spouse can live wherever they want in the US and you get BAH based on their ZIP code.
The bottom line: Every month you're not married is money you're leaving on the table. Our 100% online proxy marriage service can have you legally married same business day so you can start your BAH as fast as possible.
Right now, if you're single and living in the barracks, you receive $0 per month in housing allowance. Getting married changes everything:
Immediate eligibility. As soon as your marriage is official and processed by your unit, you're entitled to BAH at the with-dependents rate. No waiting period, no minimum time-in-service, no special approval needed.
Your spouse can live anywhere. Your spouse doesn't have to live with you. They can stay in their hometown, live near family, or set up in any city in the US. Your BAH is based on either your duty station or your dependent's location (whichever applies to your situation).
It's completely tax-free. Unlike your base pay, BAH isn't taxed. That means if your BAH is $1,800/month, you keep the full $1,800. Compare that to a civilian making $1,800 who might only keep $1,400 after taxes.
It adds up fast. At $1,500–$3,500+ per month depending on your location, BAH can add $18,000–$42,000+ per year to your total compensation. That's life-changing money.
With our same-day proxy marriage service, here's a realistic timeline from "I'm interested" to BAH hitting your bank account:
BAH is a tax-free monthly allowance paid to military servicemembers to help cover housing costs when living off-base. The amount is based on your pay grade, duty station location, and whether you have dependents. Married servicemembers receive the higher "with dependents" rate.
You qualify for the BAH with-dependents rate as soon as you are legally married. This is true even if your spouse lives in a different state or country. You'll need to update your dependency status with your finance office and provide a marriage certificate.
BAH with dependents is typically $200 to $800+ more per month than the without-dependents rate, depending on your rank and location. For junior enlisted (E1–E4), the difference is often the entire amount — since many are in the barracks receiving $0 BAH.
Yes. If you're stationed overseas on an unaccompanied tour and have a dependent (spouse) in the US, you receive BAH based on your dependent's US ZIP code at the with-dependents rate. If your spouse lives overseas with you, you'd receive OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) instead. Check our OHA Calculator for overseas rates.
BAH starts as soon as your marriage is processed by your finance office. With a proxy marriage through WeddingProxy.com, you can be legally married the same business day. Once you have your marriage certificate, submit it to your admin/finance office to start BAH processing — typically by your next pay cycle.
No. BAH is completely tax-free. It is not reported as income on your federal or state tax returns. This makes BAH even more valuable than the dollar amount suggests — you keep every single penny.
A proxy marriage is a legal marriage where one or both parties are not physically present at the ceremony — someone stands in as your "proxy." Montana is one of the few states that allows double proxy marriages (neither party needs to be present). These marriages are legal in all 50 states and recognized by every branch of the US military. It's the same as any other legal marriage.
Every month you wait is another month of $0 in housing allowance. Get married today — 100% online, same business day, recognized by all branches.