Military Leave Sell-Back Calculator

What selling unused leave really pays: basic pay ÷ 30 per day, no BAH/BAS, 22% federal withholding plus FICA, 60-day career cap.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated August 2026 · Source: DFAS Pay Tables

Gross Payment

$4,759.50

Estimated Net

$3,348.31

Per Day

$158.65

Breakdown

Basic pay ÷ 30 × days sold$4,759.50
Federal withholding (22%)-$1,047.09
FICA (7.65%)-$364.10
Net payment$3,348.31

Sold days pay basic pay only — taking the same days as terminal leave also pays BAH/BAS, which usually makes terminal leave worth more per day.

Use the Military Leave Sell-Back Calculator 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

Selling back unused leave converts each day into 1/30 of your monthly basic pay — and only basic pay. No BAH, no BAS, no special pays: 37 U.S.C. §501 prices a sold leave day at the bare table rate for your grade and years, which this page reads from the 2026 DFAS chart. The career cap is 60 sold days, total, across all enlistments.

Taxes take a real bite: the payment is supplemental wages, so 22% federal withholding applies by default, plus 7.65% FICA — nearly 30% off the top before state tax. Enlisted members typically sell at reenlistment; everyone can sell at separation or retirement.

The comparison that matters is sell-back versus terminal leave. A day of terminal leave pays the same basic pay PLUS your allowances — tax-free BAH and BAS — and keeps benefits running while the clock winds down. Day for day, terminal leave is nearly always worth more; sell-back wins only when you cannot take the days at all or need the lump sum.

Example: E-6 at 10 Years Selling 30 Days

  1. 1 A staff sergeant (E-6) with 10 years of service has 30 days of leave banked at reenlistment. The 2026 monthly basic pay is $4,759.50, so each sold day pays $4,759.50 ÷ 30 = $158.65.
  2. 2 Gross payment: 30 × $158.65 = $4,759.50 — exactly one month of basic pay.
  3. 3 Withholding: 22% federal ($1,047.09) plus 7.65% FICA ($364.10) = $1,411.19.
  4. 4 Estimated net: $3,348.31. Taken as terminal leave instead, the same 30 days would also carry roughly a month of tax-free BAH and BAS — often $2,000+ more.

Source: DFAS Pay Tables · Last updated: August 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I get for selling back leave?
Each day pays 1/30 of your monthly BASIC pay — no BAH, no BAS, no special pays. An E-6 at 10 years ($4,759.50/month in 2026) gets $158.65 per day before taxes.
How many leave days can I sell back?
60 days total over an entire career, across all enlistments and separations. Enlisted members can sell at reenlistment; everyone can sell unused leave at separation or retirement.
Is sold-back leave taxed?
Yes — 22% federal withholding as supplemental wages plus 7.65% FICA, so nearly 30% comes off the top before any state tax. The taxable treatment is a big part of why terminal leave usually beats selling.
Should I sell leave or take terminal leave?
Day for day, terminal leave is nearly always worth more: it pays the same basic pay PLUS tax-free BAH and BAS, and benefits continue while on it. Sell back when you cannot take the days or genuinely need the lump sum at reenlistment.

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