Movement and Storage of Household Goods (HHG)
Household goods transportation and storage are authorized in order to move items associated with the home as well as personal effects that belong to the employee and dependents from the old to the new duty station.
You may have the items moved for you at the government’s expense through the Transportation Office (TO) or move your household goods at your own expense and request reimbursement.
*This is not the same reimbursement as a Military DITY/PPM.* When you move your own HHG, you will be reimbursed for transportation and storage expenses not to exceed the government cost utilizing the transportation office.
**Contact the local Transportation Office (TO) to request a government HHG move.**
Quick Tips
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Things you need to know:
- CONUS HHG shipment and temporary storage is a taxable entitlement.
- OCONUS HHG shipment and temporary storage is a taxable entitlement.
- Extended (Non-temporary) HHG storage for employees assigned to OCONUS locations is a non-taxable entitlement.
- The maximum weight allowance is 18,000 pounds (an additional 2,000 for packing materials when uncrated or van line shipment).
- You may elect to move the goods from a location other than the old to the new duty stations, although the reimbursement may not exceed what it would have cost to move by the most direct route from the old to the new duty station.
- Shipment of HHG is limited to those owned by you and your dependents when shipment or storage begins (whichever comes first).
- Weight tickets are required.
- Paid in full receipts are required.
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Important Information
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There are two ways the government may pay for HHG movement and storage:
Government Bill of Lading (GBL)/Actual Expenses (AE)
When GBL is authorized, the employee must contact their local Transportation Office (TO) to arrange the shipment and storage of their household goods. Under this method, the government assumes the responsibility of moving your goods and no claim reimbursement request is required through DFAS. HHG shipment is taxable. The taxation of the government paid HHG shipment will result in a debt for the traveler.
When you personally arrange your move in lieu of using the transportation office you will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred (boxes, packing tape, rental truck, gas, etc.) not to exceed what the GBL shipment through the TO would have cost. When personally arranging your move you will be required to submit a signed memo from the TO stating what the move would have cost for the weight shipped. You will need official weight tickets showing the weight of the empty and full moving truck to determine the net weight of the goods moved. Personally arranged moves are taxed at the time of claim reimbursement.
Temporary storage sometimes referred to as storage in transit (SIT) is limited to employee’s actual storage costs. When between CONUS locations, temporary storage is authorized for 60 days initially with a maximum allowance of 150 days upon written request. When there is an OCONUS location, temporary storage is authorized for 90 days initially with a maximum allowance of 180 days upon written request. Temporary storage is taxable. The taxation of government paid HHG storage will result in a debt for the traveler.
**Insurance is not reimbursable on a personally arranged move.**
**Professional Books, Papers, and Equipment are HHG and part of the PCS weight allowance.**
The following items may not be shipped as HHG (see the JTR for additional items):
- Motor vehicles, boats that cannot be fitted into a van (whether or not actually shipped by van), airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers, and farming vehicles
- Live animals, birds, fish, and reptiles
- Cordwood and building materials
- Property for resale, disposal, or commercial use rather than for use by the employee or immediate family
- Privately owned live ammunition
- Hazardous articles including explosives, flammable and corrosive materials, poisons, etc.
Voucher Submission for Government Bill of Lading (GBL)/Actual Expenses (AE)
- DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher/Sub Voucher) – Be sure to review the Civilian relocation DD Form 1351-2 Voucher checklist.
- DD Form 1614 (Travel Authorization/Orders) with all amendments
- Paid Bill of Lading and paid, itemized receipts for any reimbursable expense $75 or more
- Copy of the official weight tickets or official weight listed on the bill of lading
- Paid storage receipts showing dates, rates and location of storage facility
- A signed memo from the Transportation Office
- Direct Deposit Form SF1199A
Commuted Rate
A lump sum payment is given to the employee based on the GSA commuted rate. This option is only allowed when moving from one state to another. You cannot use this option to move within a state or outside the continental United States (OCONUS). Reimbursement under this method includes transportation, packing, unpacking, crating drayage and storage.
Voucher Submission for Commuted Rate
- DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher/Sub Voucher) – Be sure to review the Civilian relocation DD Form 1351-2 Voucher checklist.
- DD Form 1614 (Travel Authorization/Orders) with all amendments
- Paid Bill of Lading and paid, itemized receipts for any reimbursable expense $75 or more, any reimbursement over the actual expense will be taxed
- Copy of the official weight tickets or official weight listed on the bill of lading
- Direct Deposit Form SF1199A
Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)
Do you need more information about this entitlement? Click below to review the information. The link is a searchable PDF, scroll to the section you are interested in, then click on the blue link to be taken directly to the page. Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Chapter 5, Part F, Section 0543
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eTutorials
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Frequently Asked Questions
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May HHG be transported or stored in more than one lot?
Household goods may be transported and stored in multiple lots; however, your maximum HHG weight allowance is based upon shipping and storing all HHG as one lot.
Are there any disadvantages to using the commuted rate method for transporting HHG, PBP&E and temporary storage?
Yes. The disadvantages to using the commuted rate method for transporting HHG, PBP&E and temporary storage are that the:
(a) Government cannot take advantage of any special rates that may be offered only to Government shipments;
(b) Commuted rate method does not apply to intrastate moves; and
(c) Commuted rate method may not fully reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses.
How are charges paid and who makes the arrangements for transporting HHG, PBP&E and temporary storage under the actual expense method if the government arranges the move?
Your agency is responsible for making all the necessary arrangements for transporting HHG, PBP&E, and temporary storage, including but not limited to packing/unpacking, crating/uncrating, pickup/delivery, weighing, line-haul, etc., under the actual expense method. Your agency will issue a Bill of Lading or any other shipping document with all charges billed directly to the agency. Any cost or weight in excess of 18,000 pounds will be at your expense. If the shipment exceeds the maximum weight, the Government will pay the total charges and the employee will reimburse the Government for the cost of transportation and other charges applicable to the excess weight.
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How to complete DD 1351-2 for HHG
Block 1: Payment: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is mandatory. Submit an SF 1199 or DD 2762 with updated banking account information.
Split Disbursement: If you would like funds applied directly to your Government Travel Card, place an “x” in the block and indicate the dollar amount to be applied. If your reimbursement is less than the amount requested, then the whole reimbursement will be applied to the Government Travel Card.
Block 2: Name: Last name, first name, and middle initial of Employee.
Block 3: Grade of the Employee.
Block 4: Social Security Number of Employee – full 9 digits.
Block 5: Indicate “PCS” and “Member/Employee.”
Blocks 6a-6d: Valid mailing address.
Block 6e: Valid and legible e-mail addresses.
Block 7: Daytime telephone number.
Block 8: Order/Authorization number which is listed on the original orders (See DD Form1614 Block 25).
Block 9: List any and all previous payments paid from any finance office pertaining to the travel period being claimed. List “0.00” if you have not received any payments.
Block 10: This block may be used to make a note to explain something to the travel office, if applicable (e.g. Supplemental for_ ”
Block 11: Employee’s new duty station address where employee is being assigned (See DD Form1614 Block 8).
Blocks 12-17: Not required for HHG
Block 18a. List date the expense was paid
b. List itemized expenses-e.g. “U-Haul”
c. List the amount claimed.
Block 19: Not applicable.
Block 20a&b: Signature of traveler and date signed.
Do not forget the date in Block 20B, even if it is in your digital signature. Signature date must be the day of or after final date claimed.
Block 20c-f: Reviewer’s signature and date signed. All parts (20c, 20d, 20e, & 20f) must be completed or voucher will be returned. Signature date must be the same day or after the traveler.
Block 21: Would be required for after the fact approval.
Block 22: Not applicable.
Blocks 23 – 28: Not applicable