JTR Chapter 5 · Real Math, Real Paperwork
Move yourself. Profit honestly.
A Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY) pays you 95% of the Government Constructed Cost — what DoD would have paid a moving company — to move your own household goods. The math is real and the profit is real, but only if your paperwork survives TMO closeout. This tool gives you both: the math, then the checklist.
95%
Incentive of GCC
5% admin fee deducted
$5-15K
Typical CONUS net profit
varies by lane + weight
45 days
Closeout window
after pickup to submit
2 tickets
Weight tickets required
empty + loaded, certified scale
Estimated billable weight (lbs)
JTR weight allowances cap at your rank/dependent status. E-5 w/ deps = 9,000 lbs CONUS; O-4 w/ deps = 17,000 lbs.
Distance (miles, DTOD)
The official mileage between duty stations (DTOD), not your driving route.
Your TMO-quoted GCC (if known)
Pull this from your DPS Counseling Worksheet — most accurate. Leave blank to use our estimator.
Your marginal tax rate (%)
Federal + state. E-5: ~12-22%. O-4: ~22-24%. Use your effective marginal rate.
Est. GCC range (no quote): $84,000 – $147,000 · midpoint $110,250. Real quotes vary ±40% depending on season, lane, and accessorials.
Reimbursable expenses
Total: $0
Truck / trailer / container rental
U-Haul, Penske, Budget, PODS, ABF U-Pack, etc.
Fuel for rental vehicle
Receipts required. POV fuel is NOT reimbursable — that's covered by MALT.
Packing supplies
Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, blankets, straps, mattress bags.
Tolls + scale fees
Including the two CWT weight ticket fees (empty + loaded).
Hired loading/unloading labor
Receipts + handler invoices. Friends/family payments need W-9 documentation.
Rental valuation / insurance
Damage waiver on the rental, NOT your homeowner's insurance.
Storage in transit (≤90 days)
Self-storage during the move if pre-approved.
Lodging on travel days
Receipts. Only the days actually moving — TLE/TLA covers temp lodging separately.
Your PPM math
GCC (Government Constructed Cost)
$110,250
estimated, midpoint
Gross incentive (95% of GCC)
$104,738
DoD pays you 100% minus 5% admin
Less reimbursable expenses
$0
reduces taxable income $1:$1
Taxable income from PPM
$104,738
reported on W-2 / 1099
Est. tax (22%)
$23,042
federal + state combined
Net profit
$81,695
cash in pocket after taxes
PPM / DITY Move Tracker — HonestMOS
Est. net profit: $81,695
Gross incentive
$104,738
Expenses
$0
Net after taxes
$81,695
Copies a link to these results.
Full PPM vs Partial PPM vs Full-Service
Full PPM
Wins when
Long-haul CONUS (500-2,500 mi), under your weight allowance, you have time + healthy back + helping hands
Economics
Max profit potential ($5k-$15k typical net), max effort, max risk if TMO rejects receipts
Partial PPM
Wins when
You want the profit on items you ship yourself (specialty equipment, fragile items, valuable tools) while letting TMO do the heavy stuff
Economics
Lower profit ceiling, far lower effort. TMO ships the bulk; you PPM the rest. Same paperwork rules per item.
Full-service (HHG)
Wins when
Short moves, OCONUS without strong cost margin, no time to plan, dependents with medical needs, prior bad PPM experience
Economics
No incentive. TMO handles everything via contracted carrier. Your time stays free; you also lose all the profit.
Frequently asked
PPM and DITY — same thing?
Yes. "Do-It-Yourself" was the old Army term; "Personally Procured Move" is the current DoD-wide name. The rules and math are the same: you move your own household goods, the government pays you what they would have paid a moving company (the GCC, Government Constructed Cost) minus a 5% admin fee.
What is GCC and how do I get my real number?
Government Constructed Cost — what the DoD's contracted moving companies would have charged to move your HHG at your billable weight on your origin-destination lane. Your TMO produces the GCC via the DPS (Defense Personal Property System) Counseling Worksheet — request a copy before you finalize the move. Our calculator gives a planning estimate (±40%) when you don't have a quote, but your DPS GCC is the only number that determines your actual payment.
Why is my net profit different from my gross incentive?
Three deductions: (1) the 5% admin fee — you receive 95% of GCC as gross incentive; (2) reimbursable expenses — truck, fuel, packing, labor — come off the gross, which reduces taxable income one-for-one but also reduces cash; (3) federal + state income tax on any leftover taxable amount. Net profit = gross incentive − expenses − tax.
Is PPM income taxable?
The portion of your gross incentive that EXCEEDS your documented reimbursable expenses is taxable income, reported on a 1099 (or sometimes on your W-2 depending on branch payroll). IRS Publication 521 ("Moving Expenses") covers the treatment. Translation: every receipt you can document reduces your taxable PPM income by $1. Lose the receipts, pay tax on the full amount.
How do I get a "perfect" first submission?
Two non-negotiables: (1) an empty weight ticket and a loaded weight ticket from a certified CAT (commercial vehicle) scale, both with the rental vehicle and driver visible on the receipt; (2) every receipt — fuel, tolls, packing supplies, rental, hired labor with W-9s. DPS rejects submissions missing either weight ticket. After that, file DD Form 2278 + DD Form 1351-2 (travel voucher) within 45 days. Photograph each receipt as you go; paper survives better than glove boxes.
Can I take advance pay?
Yes — up to 60% of your estimated PPM incentive is available as advance pay. This is a loan, repaid by withholding from the final payment. Useful if you need cash upfront for the rental and deposits. The downside: if your actual incentive is less than estimated, you owe the difference back.
When should I NOT do a PPM?
When the math doesn't work. Short moves (under ~500 miles) often have GCC too low to cover rental + fuel + tax. OCONUS moves where shipping containers cost more than the GCC. Moves with very heavy specialty items (pianos, gun safes, vehicles) that need specialized handling. Moves where you don't have the time, vehicle, or hands to load 7,000+ lbs. Partial PPM (you do some, TMO does the rest) is often the right hybrid.
How does this compare to the broader PCS Cost Calculator?
Different tool. The /tools/pcs-cost-calculator gives a one-page overview of all PCS entitlements (DLA, MALT, TLE, per diem, plus a quick PPM estimate). This page goes deep on PPM specifically — real GCC math, reimbursable expense breakdown with tax implications, and the documentation tracker. Use both: the cost calculator for the big-picture PCS budget, this tool when you're actually planning the PPM.