If you thought the transition out of active duty military service was tough, wait until Tax Shock hits.
In this episode of MilSpouse Transition Conversations, we’re breaking down
- why your tax burden is about to go up (and what you can do about it),
- how to set yourself up for success before tax season, and
- what you need to know if you’re starting a side hustle as an entrepreneur.
Plus, we’re covering 2025 tax updates that could impact your family.
Taxes aren’t fun, but owing more than you expected is even worse. Tune in and get ahead of the game with expert Christina Miller, EA, PMP, a business analyst & accounting professional with IRS clearance.
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Meet our Guest
Christina Miller, E.A., PMP
Christina Miller is a military spouse of 15+ years. Her husband joined when he was almost 30 so they used to be “normal” people. They are originally from Idaho but are stationed at the Pentagon in DC. They have 2 kids of our own and are a host family for 4 foreign exchange students! Only a few international wars have broken out so far, as they have France, Germany, Spain, and Italy representatives in their home.
Christina has a degree in Consumer and Family Finance from Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) and has her PMP.
For the past 10+ years, Christina has been doing tax preparation work at various places including VITA centers on military bases or in the community that offer free tax services. Christina loved that work and considers it her favorite job.
She currently works as a business analyst for a company in DC but still does tax preparation on the side. As an Enrolled Agent, which is similar to an accountant, she is authorized to represent taxpayers to the IRS for tax-related issues.
She loves to read, volunteer, and help people with their finances – which makes her a huge nerd, according to her family, but she is okay with that.
The Conversation Q&A
- Why are transitioned military families seeing such a difference in tax burden as compared to the taxes they filed while on active duty?
- How can you set yourself up for success to prepare for that first year of tax shock?
- Lots of retirees become entrepreneurs – what kinds of things should be considered for someone who decides to start a “side hustle?”
- What write-offs or deductibles should military families should be thinking about?
- What is the biggest mistake you see military families make with their taxes?
Resources for You
During the show we mentioned several forms and tools for you. Here’s those links we mentioned in the show:
State Tax Information for Military Members and Retirees
Military Rules for Your Final PCS
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) site has the Total Compensation Calculator as a spreadsheet that will automatically download to your device.
2024 Schedule C (Profit or Loss for Sole Proprieter)
Links to all IRS Forms
The first Tax Shock show we did with Christina can be found here!
Connect with our Guest
Here is how to contact our guest:
