States that waive property taxes for disabled veterans

Property Tax Exemption- Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses

Armed Services veterans with a permanent and total service connected disability rated 100% by the Veterans Administration may receive an exemption from real property taxes on the dwelling house and surrounding yard. These veterans also may apply at any time and do not have to meet the September 1 filing deadline. Certain unremarried surviving spouses may also be eligible for this exemption. Surviving spouses of military personnel killed in the line of duty may apply for an exemption.

To learn more call your local Maryland assessment office.  To find your local office and contact information visit the State Department of Assessments and Taxation website.

Application for property tax exemption

To streamline VA disability verification on the property tax exemption application, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) can assist.  Contact the MDVA service program office in Baltimore at 800-446-4926, ext 6450 to learn more.

You can also contact your local tax assessment office to verify if they will accept a VA award letter showing proof of  a 100% permanent and total disability.

Source: Maryland State Department of Taxation

Note, some active duty service members are eligible for a property tax exemption based on disability recognized by their individual branch of service.  The VA does not verify these exemptions.


Every week, Mansion Global poses a tax question to real estate tax attorneys. Here is this week’s question.

Q. What kind of property tax breaks are available to U.S. veterans?

A. Veterans of the U.S. military, particularly disabled veterans, are eligible for property tax relief in most municipalities.

Take New York state, where there are three different kinds of tax exemptions available to veterans who have served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

The alternative veterans exemption is available to those who served during war time, according to the state’s website. These homeowners are eligible for a 15% reduction in the assessed value of their homes. Veterans who served in combat zones qualify for an additional 10% reduction in the assessment, and there are further benefits for those with ​​service-connected disabilities.

More: Will Work-From-Home Employees in the U.S. Get a Tax Break?

New York also has a property tax benefit for those who were in service during the Cold War (a 10% to 15% reduction in assessed value), according to the state. In addition, there’s an “eligible funds exemption,” which can reduce a home’s assessment, typically up to $7,500, if a home is purchased with eligible funds received upon discharge from active duty, including pensions, bonuses or other compensation. 

In Illinois, there are exemptions for veterans at the state level, including the Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption, which gives veterans a one-time $5,000 reduction to the assessment of their home, according to the state’s website. Qualifying veterans who have returned from active duty in an armed conflict can apply for the benefit. 

Homestead exemptions, further lowering a home’s assessed value, are available for disabled veterans. Those who have been injured in the line of duty are eligible for a reduction of at least $2,500. The amount goes up, depending on the extent of the disability. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70%, as determined by the state, are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence, according to the state.   

More: If Dallas Property Tax Rates Are Going Down, Why Are My Payments Going Up?

There is no income threshold for the exemption, which caused some controversy last month when the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost her legs in combat, claims the benefit. The story was picked up by several national news outlets. 

Other states, such as California, have a standard and a low-income exemption for disabled veterans that meet the criteria. There, a former member of the military who is considered totally disabled is eligible for a $100,000 reduction in the assessed value of their home, according to the state’s website. A veteran with an income of $52,470 or lower can claim a benefit of $150,000. 

There are several states that waive property taxes for 100% disabled veterans, including Florida, Texas, Virginia, New Mexico and Hawaii. These exemptions are available on principal residences only, not second or vacation homes. Often a surviving spouse who remains unremarried is also eligible for the benefits. 

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What age do you stop paying property taxes in Alabama?

Homestead Types Taxpayers age 65 and older with net taxable income of $12,000 or less on the combined (taxpayer and spouse) Federal Income Tax Return – exempt from all ad valorem taxes. Taxpayer is permanently and totally disabled – exempt from all ad valorem taxes.

What age do you stop paying property taxes in Kentucky?

​​In Kentucky, homeowners who are least 65 years of age or who have been classified as totally disabled and meet other requirements are eligible to receive a homestead exemption.