MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

Hotel Tax Exemptions Could help AF Save Millions of Dollars

Staff Sgt. Clinton Atkins
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

8/17/2012 – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) — During a time of increasing Department of Defense budget constraints, the Air Force continuously looks for innovative solutions that save money and positively impacts the mission.

Air Education and Training Command’s Financial Management office said Air Force travelers could help save millions of dollars by taking advantage of tax exemptions while using the government traveler’s card at hotels in select states.

Those traveling to Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas or Wisconsin and staying in off-base lodging are exempt from paying state sales tax for the hotel room. Visit https://smartpay.gsa.gov/about-gsa-smartpay/tax-information/state-response-letter for a list states hyperlinked to more information about the tax exemptions.

Temporary duty budgets were significantly reduced across the command and have increased the use of online meeting capabilities such as Defense Connect Online and video teleconferences to save money. However, there are times when using Web-based capabilities or video teleconferences are not the best methods for conducting the meeting.

“When that’s the case and TDYs are required to fulfill the mission, we can do more to stretch our dollars,” said Judy Griffis, a financial specialist with AETC.

“The resources we have to accomplish our … mission are declining,” said Col. Charles Fiquett, director of AETC Financial Management. “As a result … we’re looking at every Airman at every level to do whatever they can to save dollars while becoming more efficient. The Cost Conscious Culture initiative is designed to do exactly that — sustain excellence while responding to declining resources.”

While most formal training classes require students to be billeted on installations, that’s not always the case.

“In just one month, AETC’s TDY to school program paid more than $3,200 in sales taxes on hotel rooms — that’s more than $40,000 a year,” Griffis said.

The financial specialist said the cost in hotel taxes doesn’t account for frequent travelers. The potential overall savings is even greater when considering this.

For a TDY to San Antonio, there are three taxes that are added on to room rates: 6 percent room state tax, 9 percent room city tax and 1.75 percent county tax. Since the lodging rate for San Antonio is $106 per day, travelers are potentially unnecessarily paying $17.76 in taxes daily for their hotel room. Those kinds of expenditures can add up quickly.

Griffis gave a few ?tips on how save money when staying in off-base lodging in the states mentioned above:

– When going to a location that offers the state tax exemption, use it.

– Print out the form from the website or, better yet, embed the form into your orders, just like you embed your receipts into your voucher. This will give you access to the form from anywhere.

– Give the tax exempt form to the hotel clerk when you check-in.

– Last but not least, support a cost conscious culture.

Fiquett said it takes a total force effort to get everyone to think deliberately about saving money.

Comments

Filed Under: Air Force, Benefits, Money, News, Resources, Travel

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

X-37B Set for Eighth Mission

AUGUST 14, 2025 – The U.S. Space Force, in partnership with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8) on Aug. 21 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle will launch on […]

Air National Guard Unveils New Bonus Program

MARCH 11, 2023 – On March 1st, the Air National Guard (ANG) launched a new bonus program to attract and retain personnel in critical specialties. The initiative offers significant financial rewards, with bonuses of up to $90,000 for eligible members, depending on their Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs). This strategic move aims to strengthen the […]

Education Benefits Make Stronger Service Members

APRIL 3, 2025 – Within the armed forces, a variety of educational benefits are available that allow service members to both improve themselves and make themselves more valuable to their service branch. One example is the Military Tuition Assistance Program. The program is available to enlisted personnel, officers and warrant officers in the Army, Navy, […]

Former Soldier Navigates Job Hunt

NOVEMBER 19, 2024 — In early 2017, Michael Quinn endured what he called the worst day in the worst year of his life. Quinn, then a sergeant major and 24-year Army Soldier, had weathered deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines. As an Army counter-intelligence agent, he said he learned to operate under grave circumstances […]

What You Need to Know About Tribal Lending

AUGUST 11, 2025 – Tribal lending is a type of loan offered by lenders that are owned and operated by Native American tribes. These lenders work under tribal law, not state law, which gives them more freedom in how they run their business.  According to a 2024 report released by the U.S. Department of Treasury, […]

Recent Posts

  • X-37B Set for Eighth Mission
  • Coast Guard Prepares for Tropical Storm Erin
  • Chicago Bears Honor Combat Veteran
  • Igniting Readiness In the Engine Test Cell
  • Back to School, Safety First, Excellence Always
MAINMENU



Powered by pixfuture


SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2025 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.