Alaska SCRA Benefits: State-Duty Coverage & Contract Exits

Alaska runs Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and Fort Greely, and its law treats the people who serve there well. Three Alaska features stack on top of the federal SCRA, and one of them is rarely matched anywhere else.

Alaska’s three wins over the federal floor

State active duty: AS 26.05.135

The federal SCRA does not cover Guard members on state orders. Alaska closes that gap directly: AS 26.05.135 makes the SCRA applicable to members of the organized militia, including the Alaska National Guard and Naval Militia on state active duty. If you are Alaska Guard, that statute is your tool on state orders. On federal orders, the federal SCRA applies on its own.

The contract-cancellation statute worth real money

This is the Alaska feature most service members miss. Alaska law lets you cancel ongoing service contracts, gym memberships, television, satellite radio, and internet, when you get orders to relocate for 90 days or more to a place the contract does not serve. Written notice, and you owe nothing after the termination date. The federal SCRA handles leases and car leases under § 3955, and under § 3956 it already cancels your phone, internet, cable or satellite TV, gym or fitness, and home security. Alaska’s statute is a state-law route to the same result that also reaches satellite radio, which the federal list leaves out. On a PCS out of Alaska, that is several monthly bills you can kill with one round of notices.

The tax side: zero, plus a dividend

Alaska has no state income tax. Military pay, retirement, and other income are untaxed by the state, and residents collect the annual Permanent Fund Dividend on top. A maintained Alaska domicile is one of the strongest tax positions in the military, and it pairs with the tax-state election when you are stationed elsewhere.

Run the Alaska stack

1. On relocation orders of 90+ days: send written cancellation notices to your gym, TV, satellite, and internet providers under Alaska’s contract-cancellation law.
2. The federal kit runs as usual on top: 6% cap letters, lease exits, foreclosure shields, and refund audits.
3. Lease or car lease: federal § 3955, written notice plus orders, end date via the calculator.
4. Alaska Guard on state duty: invoke AS 26.05.135 in writing.
5. Maintain Alaska domicile where it fits: no state income tax, plus the PFD.

The law behind this: AS 26.05.135

Applicability of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to members of the organized militia: read the statute.