If you’re a member of the military, you understand all too well the many difficulties that come with serving your country. One of the more notable challenges is the impact of new permanent change of station (PCS) orders on you and your family. These often require you to move your entire life to a new location, sometimes with limited time to prepare.

On December 31, 2018, legislation was passed through the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (VBTA) creating further opportunities to ease the financial burden that may accompany PCS orders to a new state. This new legislation expanded upon previous provisions under the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act of 2009 (MSRRA) relating to state income taxes.

One of the most significant expansions of this new law was to now allow spouses of active-duty military members to assume the state of residency of the servicemember for income tax purposes without having lived in the state. Read the rest of this entry »