Severance Pay Tax after PEB

There are so many differenct scenarios that it's hard to tell you exactly what to do but there's 3 main ways to get your money back:
  1. If you receive severance before the year end, you can reach out to DFAS and submit required paperwork
  2. If it's after year end, you can file in your return to get it back. You'll likely need the help of a tax professional or be willing to do the research to make sure you file it appropriately.
    • if it's recorded as income in your w-2 you will have to show in your return, that the severance shouldn't have been counted as income and then your total income on your return is reduced showing a tax overpayment and thus you get the taxed amount back.
  3. If it's more than a year ago, you have to file an amended return asking for a refund because you overstated your income on the previous return.


Here's all the links again to read through and figure out what scenario applies to you and how to go forward:




I was paid my severance January of this year. I asked my tax professional and he was clueless on what to do. So since I am still within the year, the form 1040x is the way to go?

I was 0% USAF and 100% P&T with the VA and actually had my official VA info before I was paid my severance but they taxed it anyways....
 
I was paid my severance January of this year. I asked my tax professional and he was clueless on what to do. So since I am still within the year, the form 1040x is the way to go?

I was 0% USAF and 100% P&T with the VA and actually had my official VA info before I was paid my severance but they taxed it anyways....
Follow up - were you ever able to get your tax back from your severance pay?
 
Hello,

Associated info:

Taxability

When you were paid your separation payment, you received a certain dollar amount and the government withheld taxes and sent a portion of the separation payment to the IRS on your behalf as required by law. The IRS used the taxes paid on your behalf to figure your overall tax liability in the year of your separation payment. Your personal circumstances at the time of the separation payment determined whether you received a refund of any taxes withheld and paid to the IRS.

When someone who has previously received separation payment retires, the law requires the gross amount of the separation payment to be recouped through a reduction in military retired pay. The required gross recoupment includes the amount paid to you plus the amount withheld for taxes and paid to the IRS on your behalf. The separation payment recoupment reduces your retired pay before taxes are computed on your current retired pay. As a result, your overall taxable retired pay income is reduced by the amount of your monthly recoupment.

Ron

Edited to add procedures for certain cases years earlier:
Disability Severance Pay <—-LINK

NOTE: This procedure has expired .
 
Hello,

Associated info:

Taxability

When you were paid your separation payment, you received a certain dollar amount and the government withheld taxes and sent a portion of the separation payment to the IRS on your behalf as required by law. The IRS used the taxes paid on your behalf to figure your overall tax liability in the year of your separation payment. Your personal circumstances at the time of the separation payment determined whether you received a refund of any taxes withheld and paid to the IRS.

When someone who has previously received separation payment retires, the law requires the gross amount of the separation payment to be recouped through a reduction in military retired pay. The required gross recoupment includes the amount paid to you plus the amount withheld for taxes and paid to the IRS on your behalf. The separation payment recoupment reduces your retired pay before taxes are computed on your current retired pay. As a result, your overall taxable retired pay income is reduced by the amount of your monthly recoupment.

Ron

Edited to add procedures for certain cases years earlier:
Disability Severance Pay <—-LINK

NOTE: This procedure has expired .
Additional associated info: 24 August 2024

From DFAS: Disability Severance Pay Tax Refunds <—LINK

The link above discusses the procedure for tax refunds of taxes erroneously collected several years ago. That “cause” at DFAS has been fixed.

10 U.S. Code § 1212 - Disability severance pay​


(a)Upon separation from his armed force under section 1203 or 1206 of this title, a member is entitled to disability severance pay computed by multiplying (1) the member’s years of service computed under section 1208 of this title (subject to the minimum and maximum years of service provided for in subsection (c)), by (2) the highest of the following amounts:
(A)
Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when he is separated and (ii) in the grade and rank in which he was serving on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated.
(B)
Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in any temporary grade or rank higher than that described in clause (A), in which he served satisfactorily as determined by the Secretary of the military department or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the case may be, having jurisdiction over the armed force from which he is separated.
(C)
Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in the permanent regular or reserve grade to which he would have been promoted had it not been for the physical disability for which he is separated and which was found to exist as a result of a physical examination.
(D)
Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in the temporary grade or rank to which he would have been promoted had it not been for the physical disability for which he is separated and which was found to exist as a result of a physical examination, if his eligibility for promotion was required to be based on cumulative years of service or years in grade.
(b)
For the purposes of subsection (a), a part of a year of active service that is six months or more is counted as a whole year, and a part of a year that is less than six months is disregarded.
(c)
(1)The minimum years of service of a member for purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be as follows:
(A)
Six years in the case of a member separated from the armed forces for a disability incurred in line of duty in a combat zone (as designated by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this subsection) or incurred during the performance of duty in combat-related operations as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(B)
Three years in the case of any other member.
(2)
The maximum years of service of a member for purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be 19 years.
(d)
(1)
The amount of disability severance pay received under this section shall be deducted from any compensation for the same disability to which the former member of the armed forces or his dependents become entitled under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2)
No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) in the case of disability severance pay received by a member for a disability incurred in line of duty in a combat zone or incurred during performance of duty in combat-related operations as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(3)
No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) from any death compensation to which a member’s dependents become entitled after the member’s death.

Ron

 
Last edited:
Also posted 24 August 2024:

This comes from DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 35 and provides a better summary.


DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 35

* March 2024 35-21


5.4.1. General. Disability severance pay is normally taxable income
.
However, it is not subject to tax withholding or reporting if at least one of the following two conditions exists:


5.4.1.1. The entitlement resulted from combat-related injury or illness, as determined by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned, which happens as a result of any of the following activities:

5.4.1.1.1. As a direct result of armed conflict;

5.4.1.1.2. While performing extra-hazardous service, even if the service does not directly involve combat;

5.4.1.1.3. Under conditions simulating war, including maneuvers or training; or

5.4.1.1.4. By an instrumentality of war, such as weapons; or 5.4.1.2. The member is entitled to disability compensation as determined by the VA or has received a proposed disability rating from the VA at the time of separation through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System.



5.4.2. Withholding Taxes. Income taxes are withheld from all payments of disability severance pay unless the member qualifies for an exemption under subparagraph 5.4.1.

Ron
 
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