Pay Your Military Service Payment Online

The DFAS Military Service Deposit Payment Form is intended for use by federal civilian employees to make payments on their Military Service Deposit amount due. This form cannot be utilized until after receipt of notification from the employee’s servicing payroll office indicating the amount due. Specific information from the notification letter (database and employee ID) is required to complete the form. Payment can be made online via Pay.gov using checking and saving (ACH) account information, bank branded debit card, or PayPal (linked to checking and saving account only -ACH). Additional instruction on how to process payments is available through the DFAS Military Service Deposit (MSD) Payment eTutorial on YouTube.

The Military Service Buy Back Estimator Tool can help give you an estimate on how much it might cost you to buy back your time. This tool is intended as an estimate and the best way to determine an exact amount is to follow the steps below.

How Do I Buy Back My Military Time?


1. Complete a separate Estimated Earnings During Military Service request form, RI 20-97 for each branch of service.

Attach your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD 214 (or equivalent), and any available records of pay or promotions to the RI 20-97 and send to the appropriate military finance center. Verification of your service is required to obtain your estimated earnings. Listing of acceptable documents

Note: To obtain a copy of your DD214, write to or send a military records request form, Standard Form 180(SF-180) to:

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

2. After you receive your estimated military earnings computation from the military finance center via postal mail, please have your human resource office assist you in completing the appropriate application(s) listed below based on your personal situation:

3. Send your estimated earnings statement, DD 214 and SF 2803 or SF 3108 to your human resources office.

If you are employed by DFAS, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Department of Defense Inspector General (DoDIG), Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), Defense Acquisition University (DAU) or National Defense University (NDU), your human resources office is DFAS. Please mail your information to:

DFAS Shared Services Center
Benefits Division, DHFOPB
8899 East 56th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485

4. The human resources office will provide a calculated estimate of your military deposit amount due, certify your application and forward the required documents to your payroll office. *

 *Please note if your human resource office shifts the responsibility for submitting the application to you, there may be a risk in the delay of processing your military deposit due to an incomplete package. A notification requesting additional information will be sent directly to you through mail

5. The payroll office will calculate your conclusive military deposit amount due and inform you of the amount you owe by mail to include instructions for making payments.

6. Make your payments directly to your payroll office by payroll deduction, pay.gov form, check, or money order as directed in the military deposit payment request letter you receive. The deposit may be made in a single lump sum or installments. Your total deposit amount and remaining amount due will be reflected in block 20 of your Leave and Earnings Statement. Each payment and a year to date total will be reflected in the deductions box of your LES.
 
7. After you have paid your Military Deposit in full, either by pay.gov, check or money order, your payroll office will send you a Paid-in-Full letter. If your military deposit is paid-in-full by payroll deductions, you must request a Paid-in-Full Letter through your human resource office or customer service representative. A Remedy ticket will be submitted with the title “Military Deposit Paid in Fill Letter”.

8. If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU or NDU, your human resources office is DFAS. In order to request a Paid-in-Full Letter or have your Paid-in-Full Letter uploaded to your eOPF, please send a request and/or your Paid-in-Full Letter to your human resources office by mail or fax. Please see mailing address and fax number below:

DFAS Shared Services Center
Benefits Division, D.FOPB
8899 East 56th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485


Or fax your request to 1-866-401-5849


How long will it take to process a request?

Once all applicable documents have been sent to the civilian payroll office, it takes approximately 30 business days to process your request.  If you haven’t received notice after the expected wait time feel free to call our customer service number at 800-729-3277

Important Reminder: Verification of your service is required to obtain your estimated earnings. Estimated earnings are required regardless if you are buying back time based on a Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

Last Updated December 1, 2023