DITY or PPM Move? How a Personally Procured Move Can Pay You

The short version

A Personally Procured Move (PPM), once called a DITY move, is when you handle your own PCS instead of using a government mover. For a member-elected PPM, the government can pay you 100% of what it would have paid a mover, and you keep any money you do not spend, minus taxes. To get paid, you have to keep your receipts and your certified weight tickets.

Source: Military OneSource

What is a PPM (DITY) move?

A PPM is a move you arrange yourself. You might rent a truck or trailer, rent portable containers, use your own vehicle, or hire your own moving company. You can do a full PPM, where you move everything, or a partial PPM, where movers take part of your household goods and you handle the rest. You need your orders and approval from your transportation office (TO) before you start.

Source: Military OneSource

How does a PPM pay you?

The incentive is the point. For a member-elected PPM, you can be paid 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what the government would have paid a mover for the same shipment and storage. It comes as a single payment. If your actual costs come in under that amount, you can keep the difference, minus taxes. Your payment is based on the actual weight you move, verified by weight tickets, up to your authorized weight entitlement.

Source: Military OneSource

Is PPM incentive money taxable?

Yes. Any incentive you keep is taxable income. The payment is issued minus taxes, so plan for that when you budget the move. Keeping detailed receipts matters here, because documented moving expenses can affect what you owe. Talk to MilTax or a tax professional about your situation.

Source: Military OneSource

What records do I need?

Two things carry the whole claim: weight tickets and receipts. Get an empty (light) weight ticket and a full (loaded) weight ticket from a certified scale for each leg of your move. Keep every receipt for trucks, containers, packing materials, and fuel. If you lose a weight ticket, you can submit written justification, but missing paperwork can reduce or hold up your payment.

Source: Military OneSource

How do I start a PPM the right way?

Start with your transportation office and the Defense Personal Property System (DPS). Get counseled, create your PPM in DPS, and confirm your authorized weight and any advance operating allowance before you load a single box. The government also authorizes temporary storage, currently up to 90 days for service members and not to exceed the GCC, with weight tickets, storage contracts, and receipts required.

Source: Military OneSource, Defense Personal Property System

What is the difference between a DITY and a PPM?

They are the same thing. The military renamed the Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move to Personally Procured Move (PPM). Older troops may still call it a DITY.

Do I still get the incentive if I hire my own movers?

A member-elected PPM can still pay 100% of the GCC even if you hire a company, because you chose to run the move yourself. A separate actual-cost method exists when a government mover is not available, and it requires written pre-approval.

Can I do a partial PPM?

Yes. Movers can take part of your goods while you move the rest yourself and claim the PPM incentive on the portion you handle.

What if I lose a weight ticket?

Provide a written justification and any supporting documents, such as an accident report. Certified weight tickets are the standard, so replace or document them whenever you can.

Can I get money up front?

An advance operating allowance may be available through your finance office. If you take an advance, your service can require you to settle the move within a set number of days.

How much can I actually get?

It depends on your GCC and the weight you move, up to your entitlement. Use the PPM estimator and your TO to get a realistic number before you commit.

Where to get help

• Your local transportation office (TO), found through the Military OneSource installation search.
• Defense Personal Property System (DPS) via Military OneSource.
• MilMove PPM estimator (my.move.mil, login required).
• The Personal Property Activity call center at 833-645-6683.
• MilTax through Military OneSource for questions about taxes on your incentive.

Verification Notes

• The incentive percentage (currently 100% of the Government Constructed Cost), authorized weight entitlements, temporary storage days (currently 90 for service members), and advance rules are set by DoD and the Joint Travel Regulations and can change. Confirm current figures with your TO and the JTR.
• Tax treatment of any incentive you keep depends on your circumstances. Confirm with MilTax or a tax professional.
• Some accessorial payments (fuel surcharge, bulky items, extra pickup or delivery) require counselor approval.

Sources & links

• Military OneSource: Personally Procured Moves fact sheet
• Military OneSource: Personal Property Shipment for your PCS
• Military OneSource: Defense Personal Property System (DPS)
• MilMove: PPM estimator (login required)
• Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)

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