BRS Continuation Pay Calculator 2026 — By Service

2026 New

Work out BRS continuation pay for 2026: your service's multiplier (Navy and Air Force 2.5×, Marine Corps 5×, Coast Guard 9× or 6×), the DFAS pay cell it uses, taxes without FICA, installments and TSP.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: 37 U.S.C. §356; NAVADMIN 148/26, MARADMIN 003/26, ALARACT 100/2025, ALCOAST 462/24; DFAS 2026 basic pay

Component
×
In a combat zone on your entitlement date?
Filing Status

Continuation pay (gross)

$12,608.25

Take-Home (Withheld)

$9,834.43

Actual Net

$9,834.44

Your continuation pay

Monthly basic pay, E-6 over 12 (2026)$5,043.30
$5,043.30 × 2.5$12,608.25
Federal Withholding (22% flat)$2,773.82
Social Security and Medicare$0.00
State income tax (pick a state)$0.00
Net After Withholding$9,834.43
Federal tax at your 22% bracket$2,773.82

One rate for every rating and designator. Elect in NSIPS before your 12-year date; TAR sailors get the active rate. NAVADMIN 133/25; 2.5× kept for 2027 by NAVADMIN 148/26

2026 continuation pay multipliers

ServiceActiveReservePay column
Army2.5×0.5×years at signing
Navy2.5×0.5×over 12
Marine Corps5×1×over 12
Air Force2.5×0.5×over 12
Space Force2.5×—over 12
Coast Guard9× enlisted, 6× officers2×over 8

Continuation pay is not subject to Social Security or Medicare: for service members those taxes apply to basic pay only (26 U.S.C. 3121(i)(2)). Federal tax is withheld at 22% of each payment; installments are taxed in the year you receive them. In return you serve 4 more years; if you leave early you repay the unearned share of the gross amount, taxes withheld included. The multiple is set on the active-duty pay table even for reservists.

Use the BRS Continuation Pay Calculator 2026 — By Service above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Continuation pay is the mid-career bonus the Blended Retirement System pays in exchange for four more years of service. The law (37 U.S.C. §356) covers BRS members with 7 to 12 years of service and sets a floor of 2.5 times monthly basic pay for the active component and 0.5 times for drilling reservists; DoD policy allows up to 13 times and 6 times. Each service sets its own multiple by calendar year: for 2026 the Navy, Air Force and Space Force pay 2.5 times, the Marine Corps 5 times, and the Coast Guard 9 times for enlisted members and 6 times for officers.

The multiple is applied to one cell of the DFAS basic pay table, and which cell depends on the service. The Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force use the "over 12" column at your 12-year date, the Coast Guard pays at exactly 8 years from the "over 8" column, and the Army uses your grade and years of service on the day you sign, anywhere from 7 to 12 years in 2026 and only 7 to 10 years from 2027. Reservists get their multiple of the active-duty cell, not of drill pay.

The payment is supplemental wages: DFAS withholds 22% federal income tax, and there is no Social Security or Medicare because for service members those taxes apply to basic pay only. Your state of legal residence may tax it under its rules for military pay. If you become entitled while serving in a combat zone, enlisted members exclude all of it and officers exclude it up to the monthly combat pay cap. You can take a lump sum or up to four annual payments, send part of it to the TSP (with no matching), and you repay the unearned share if you leave before the four years are up.

Example: Navy E-6 at 12 Years

  1. 1 Input: a Navy E-6 under BRS elects continuation pay before reaching 12 years of service in 2026. The Navy's 2026 multiple is 2.5.
  2. 2 Pay cell: the DFAS 2026 table pays an E-6 over 12 years $5,043.30 a month.
  3. 3 Continuation pay: 2.5 × $5,043.30 = $12,608.25 before tax. A Marine E-6 would get 5 × $5,043.30 = $25,216.50.
  4. 4 Result: 22% federal withholding takes $2,773.82 and nothing goes to Social Security or Medicare, so $9,834.43 is deposited before any state tax, in return for four more years of service.

Source: 37 U.S.C. §356; NAVADMIN 148/26, MARADMIN 003/26, ALARACT 100/2025, ALCOAST 462/24; DFAS 2026 basic pay · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is BRS continuation pay in 2026?
It is a multiple of one month of basic pay: 2.5 times for the Navy, Air Force and Space Force, 5 times for the Marine Corps, and 9 times (enlisted) or 6 times (officers) for the Coast Guard; drilling reservists get 0.5 to 2 times, depending on the service. An E-6 at 12 years ($5,043.30 a month) gets $12,608.25 at 2.5 times.
Is continuation pay taxed?
Yes, as supplemental wages: DFAS withholds 22% federal income tax, and your state may tax it. There is no Social Security or Medicare, because for service members those taxes apply to basic pay only. If you become entitled while serving in a combat zone, enlisted members exclude all of it and officers exclude it up to the monthly cap.
When do I get continuation pay?
The Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force pay at your 12-year date and require the election before it; the Coast Guard pays at exactly 8 years; the Army lets you apply any time with 7 to 12 years of service in 2026, and only 7 to 10 years from January 2027.
What happens if I leave before the four years are up?
You repay the unearned share of the gross amount, including the tax that was withheld, and any unpaid installments stop. There is no repayment for death or a combat-related disability that was not caused by misconduct.

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