PCS Move
OHA Calculator
OCONUSOverseas Housing Allowance — how it works and where to find your exact rates.
Official rate lookup
Look up your OHA rate
Find your exact rent ceiling, U/RM (utility), and MIHA (move-in) amounts on the DTMO rate lookup tool.
Open DTMO OHA lookupOpens travel.dod.mil — the official Defense Travel Management Office
What OHA covers
OHA replaces BAH overseas. Unlike BAH (a flat rate), OHA reimburses actual housing costs up to a ceiling.
Rent ceiling
Maximum monthly rent the government reimburses. Based on location, rank, and dependency status. You receive only what you pay — up to this ceiling.
Utility / Recurring Maintenance
Flat monthly amount for electricity, gas, water, trash, and maintenance. Paid regardless of actual costs — you keep any savings.
Move-in Housing Allowance (MIHA)
One-time allowance for security deposits, real estate fees, and required furnishings. Two sub-components: Miscellaneous and Rent.
OHA vs BAH — the key difference
BAH is a flat rate — if your rent is lower, you keep the difference. OHA reimburses actual rent up to the ceiling — you cannot pocket the difference. However, the U/RM (utility) component is flat, so if your utility costs are lower, you keep that savings.
OHA rules & eligibility
OHA is based on actual rent — you cannot pocket the difference between rent and ceiling (unlike BAH)
U/RM is a flat rate — if your utilities cost less, you keep the savings
You must have a certified lease on file with your housing office to receive OHA
OHA rates are updated periodically based on local market surveys (not annually like BAH)
Members in government quarters do not receive OHA
OHA is non-taxable
OHA during a PCS move
Leaving OCONUS: OHA stops when your rental contract ends. BAH Transit starts on your departure date. No overlap.
Arriving OCONUS: OHA begins when you sign a lease and submit it to your housing office. Until then, you may receive TLA.
Timeline: OHA → TLA → BAH Transit → new station BAH/OHA. Use our Prorated BAH Calculator to model this transition.
About OHA rates
OHA rates vary by location and are updated periodically by DTMO based on local housing market surveys. Rates shown on the DTMO lookup tool are the most current available. Always verify your OHA entitlement with your housing office and finance office.
About this entitlement
What you need to know — straight from the regulation
What OHA is
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is a non-taxable monthly allowance paid to service members assigned to OCONUS permanent duty stations who are authorized to live in private housing rather than government quarters. OHA is administered under JTR Chapter 10, Part C and supersedes BAH for qualifying OCONUS assignments.
JTR Chapter 10, Part C · DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 26
What OHA reimburses
OHA has three components, each with its own rate and purpose: (1) a rent ceiling that reimburses the member's actual rent up to a location-, grade-, and dependency-indexed maximum; (2) a Utility/Recurring Maintenance Allowance (URMA), a flat monthly amount paid by location to offset average utility and recurring maintenance costs; and (3) a one-time Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) paid at arrival to offset move-in costs such as rental deposits, security deposits, and modifications required to occupy the residence.
JTR Chapter 10, Part C · DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 26
How it differs from BAH
Unlike BAH (CONUS), which pays a fixed monthly rate regardless of actual rent, OHA reimburses the member only up to the actual documented rent, capped at the rent ceiling. If actual rent is below the ceiling, OHA pays actual rent — the member does not keep the difference. URMA, however, is paid as a flat amount whether or not actual utilities reach that level.
JTR Chapter 10 (BAH) · JTR Chapter 10 Part C (OHA)
Tax treatment and rate changes
OHA is non-taxable and is not reported as wages on the W-2. Rate ceilings are updated regularly (more frequently than annually) by the Defense Travel Management Office based on currency-exchange and local-market conditions — use the DTMO OHA Rate Lookup below to see the current rate for your location, rank, and dependency status.
DoD FMR Vol. 7A · DTMO OHA rate schedule
Source & references
- Primary source
- Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) — Overseas Housing Allowance program — view official publication
- Regulatory reference
- JTR Chapter 10, Part C · DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 26
- Effective date
- Rates update continuously — verify on the DTMO lookup tool
Military Toolkit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Rates and rules on this page are pulled directly from the publications cited above. Always verify with your finance office, TMO, or the official rate page before making financial or planning decisions.
Keep going
Overseas pay + housing tools
REF: JTR Ch 10 Part C · DoD FMR Vol 7A, Ch 26, effective Rates update periodically
Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO)
Results are estimates. Always verify with your finance office.
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