Tax exemption would expand to not just designated combat zones but all non-permanently deployed service members abroad
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In a move that’s sure to have a significant impact on our brave service members, an Army veteran and House Foreign Affairs member introduced a noteworthy bill on Thursday. This bill aims to eliminate taxes for all U.S. service members deployed overseas.
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, has put forth the BRAVE Act. This piece of legislation would amend the IRS code, extending the tax exemption that currently only applies to designated combat zones to all non-permanently deployed service members operating abroad. Presently, personnel deployed to combat zones already benefit from not having to pay taxes on their salary.
Davidson emphasizes the dual nature of military deployments, saying, “When our soldiers deploy for combat, they don’t pay taxes. When they deploy around the world to promote peace and deter war, they pay taxes. The BRAVE Act makes it clear: reward both of these deployments—respect our warriors.”
Combat zones, where pay is tax-exempt, are determined on a case-by-case basis through executive orders. Currently, fewer than twelve countries and regions, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Somalia, and the Sinai, are included.
U.S. Army Spc. Johnny Pagan, an infantryman from the New York National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, and a native of Manhattan, operates a soldier-borne sensor unmanned aerial vehicle. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr.)
However, U.S. service members’ presence spans roughly 175 countries worldwide. Many of these locations, including regions like Chad or the Indo-Pacific, do not currently receive the same tax benefits, and service members stationed there pay full taxes.
Davidson continues, “The ‘BRAVE Act’ ensures that those serving in foreign deployments receive the full tax relief they deserve, maintaining fairness for all service members.”
Over recent years, U.S. forces have faced challenges with recruitment. This problem is partially attributed to concerns that military pay has not kept up with inflation or private sector wages.
Land mine detectors stand by as a U.S. Army soldier maneuvers “Hermes” the robot into a cave to find mines, traps, unexploded ordinance, or other hidden weapons, on July 29, 2002, in the eastern border town of Qiqay, Afghanistan. (Wally Santana/Pool/Getty Images)
The House-passed National Defense Authorization Act recently included a 4.5% salary increase for all military personnel and a 15% raise for junior enlisted troops. This bill must now go through negotiations with the Senate before it can be officially passed into law.
Throughout 2023, the Army, Navy, and Air Force fell short of their recruiting goals by 41,000 enlistees, while the Marines and Space Force managed to meet their targets. The Army concluded the 2023 fiscal year with 452,000 active-duty soldiers, marking its smallest size since the period before World War II.
