Military? Check Your W4s for Residency Due to New Law

I wrote about this before but had forgotten it until I was reading the Army Times over the weekend.  Apparently in November, they passed a bill granting the spouse of a military person the right to claim the same state residency.  For those in the military, you know what a pain it is to have to fill out two state tax returns, one for you where you live and the other for your spouse for the state he/she lived in when first enlisted.  I've not been a good military wife as I never learned all the correct Army lingo but I know there is another word or statement for that.

The article furthered the fact that it's retroactive for 2009!  If you meet the requirements,  you get to fill out your appropriate state's form to get that money back and to halt any new deductions.  This is great news because my husband's home state is Texas which means no state tax!  I figure they will tax the tax refund so it's less than I'll have put in.  Whatever happened to no double taxation??

I was happy nonetheless so if you are in the military, check it out by visiting your state's tax page or check it here:  http://m.military.com/news/articlerss/army-news/tax-law-grants-gis-spouses-protection.xml/2

Applications Now Accepted for National Military Family Association Military Spouse Scholarship Program

ALEXANDRIA, VA December 4, 2009 — The National Military Family Association is accepting applications for its Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program. Scholarships of up to $1,000 are awarded to military spouses to obtain professional certification or to attend post secondary or graduate school. The program consists of a general scholarship, a scholarship for spouses of the wounded, and a scholarship for spouses of the fallen. Thanks to a partnership with the Fisher House Foundation, Folds of Honor Foundation, and BAE Systems, the Association is able to provide scholarships to a larger number of deserving military spouses.


Applications will only be accepted online at www.militaryfamily.org/scholarships and must be submitted by midnight January 31, 2010. Spouses of uniformed service members (active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retirees, and survivors) of any branch or rank are eligible to apply. The scholarship funds may be used to assist with tuition, fees, and school room and board.

The National Military Family Association recognizes that unique challenges like frequent moves and deployments can interfere with military spouses’ ability to complete their education. In order to help spouses reach their career and educational goals, the Association has created a web portal stocked with military spouse education resources and information. Visit www.militaryfamily.org/get-info/spouse-education to access the information.