Every state in the U.S. offers some form of property tax relief for veterans — but amounts vary from a few hundred dollars to a complete elimination of your property tax bill. Here's the definitive state-by-state breakdown for 2025.
Property taxes are one of the largest recurring costs of homeownership — averaging $2,795 per year nationally as of 2024, according to the Tax Foundation. For veterans, especially those on fixed disability incomes, these exemptions can represent thousands of dollars saved every single year.
Every state offers at least one form of property tax relief for veterans. Some are modest — a $1,500 exemption off the assessed value. Others are transformational: in Texas, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, and New Jersey, a veteran with a 100% permanent and total (P&T) disability rating owes zero property taxes on their primary residence. No cap. No dollar limit. The full bill wiped out.
Understanding these exemptions is especially important for veterans who haven't yet pursued a 100% P&T rating — because in many states, the difference between a 90% rating and 100% P&T is worth $5,000–$10,000+ per year in property tax savings.
In at least 16 states, a 100% permanent and total (P&T) VA disability rating results in a complete property tax exemption on your primary residence — with no dollar cap. This benefit alone can be worth more annually than your VA disability compensation check.
A "100% P&T" disability rating means the VA has rated you 100% disabled and deemed that rating permanent and total — meaning it is unlikely to improve. This designation is different from simply having a combined rating that reaches 100% (which can still be reduced).
Many of the best property tax exemptions — including full exemptions in Texas, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey — are only available at 100% P&T. Veterans at 90% or even 100% schedular (non-P&T) ratings may not qualify for the maximum exemption in their state.
For veterans close to 100%, this creates a powerful financial incentive to pursue a P&T designation or additional claims. At current property tax averages, achieving 100% P&T in a state like Texas or Virginia could eliminate $5,000–$15,000+ in annual property taxes depending on your home's value.
Use the claim.vet disability calculator to model how additional conditions could push your rating to 100% P&T.
Below are the most veteran-populous states with detailed breakdowns of their property tax exemption programs.
Who qualifies: 100% P&T veterans on primary residence. Veterans with 10–90% ratings receive $5,000–$12,000 in exemptions. Surviving spouses of P&T veterans may continue the full exemption.
Where to apply: County Appraisal District. Annual or one-time filing; re-certification required if rating changes.
Who qualifies: 100% P&T = full homestead exemption (total exemption). Veterans with 10%+ disability receive an additional $5,000 off assessed value. Florida's exemption is also portable — you can take it to a new home.
Where to apply: County Property Appraiser. File by March 1 for the following tax year.
Who qualifies: Veterans with a service-connected disability. The basic exemption is $4,000 off assessed value; the veterans' exemption is up to $161,083; 100% P&T veterans may qualify for up to $241,627 via the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, income-tested.
Where to apply: County Assessor. File annually by February 15.
Who qualifies: New York offers two programs: the Alternative Veterans Exemption and the Eligible Funds Exemption. The Alternative Exemption reduces assessed value by 15% for wartime veterans, 25% for combat veterans, and an additional 50% of VA-rated disability percentage. The actual dollar savings depend entirely on your county's tax rate and locally set maximum.
Where to apply: Local assessor's office. Filing deadline: taxable status date (varies by municipality, often March 1).
Who qualifies: Veterans with 30–49% disability: $2,500. 50–69%: $5,000. 70%+: $100,000 assessed value reduction. 100% P&T: complete exemption on primary residence. Surviving spouses continue eligibility.
Where to apply: County Supervisor of Assessments. Annual filing required.
Who qualifies: 100% P&T veterans are fully exempt from property taxes on their primary residence. Standard veterans' exemption is $119,292 off assessed value for wartime veterans. Surviving spouses may continue the full exemption if they remain unmarried.
Where to apply: County Tax Commissioner or Board of Assessors. File by April 1.
Who qualifies: 100% P&T veterans or those rated 100% by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU) — full exemption on their primary residence. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans also receive a full exemption, as long as they continue to occupy the same home.
Where to apply: Local Commissioner of the Revenue or Director of Finance. One-time filing with VA rating documentation.
Who qualifies: Veterans with 100% permanent disability rating — full property tax exemption. All veterans who served in wartime receive a flat $250 annual deduction. Surviving spouses of 100% P&T veterans retain the full exemption if they remain unmarried and in the same home.
Where to apply: Municipal Tax Assessor. File by November 1 for the following year.
Who qualifies: Pennsylvania's Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption provides a complete exemption to veterans with 100% P&T disability. The exemption is administered county-by-county, so coverage and application deadlines vary slightly. Most of the state's 67 counties participate in the program.
Where to apply: County Board of Assessment. One-time application with annual certification.
The table below summarizes veteran property tax exemptions in all 50 states. Amounts reflect 2024–2025 program levels. Always verify current amounts with your county assessor or state veterans affairs department, as exemption values are adjusted periodically.
| State | Exemption Type | Amount / Who Qualifies | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Disability exemption | 100% SC disability = full exemption on primary residence | County Revenue Office |
| Alaska | Assessed value reduction | $150,000 off assessed value for 50%+ SC disability | Borough/City Assessor |
| Arizona | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption; partial for lower ratings by income | County Assessor |
| Arkansas | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full homestead exemption on primary residence | County Tax Assessor |
| California | Disabled Veterans' Exemption | Up to $161,083; up to $241,627 for low-income 100% P&T | County Assessor |
| Colorado | 50% exemption | 50% of first $200,000 of primary home value for 100% P&T veterans | County Assessor |
| Connecticut | Flat reduction | $3,000 reduction on assessed value for wartime veterans; up to $10,000 for 100% disabled | Local Assessor |
| Delaware | Credit | Up to $400 annual credit for veterans with SC disability | County Assessment Office |
| Florida | Full homestead exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption; $5,000 additional for 10%+ disability | County Property Appraiser |
| Georgia | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption; $119,292 assessed value reduction for wartime veterans | County Tax Commissioner |
| Hawaii | Assessed value reduction | $50,000–$75,000 off assessed value for SC disability (varies by county) | County Real Property Tax Division |
| Idaho | Property tax reduction | 100% P&T = up to $1,500 reduction; income-tested property tax deferral also available | County Assessor |
| Illinois | Homestead exemption | $2,500–$100,000 by disability %; 100% P&T = full exemption | County Supervisor of Assessments |
| Indiana | Deduction | $24,960 deduction on assessed value for 100% P&T or 10%+ SC disability | County Auditor |
| Iowa | Full exemption (military homestead) | Full exemption on first $4,850 of actual value for honorably discharged veterans | County Assessor |
| Kansas | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence | County Appraiser |
| Kentucky | Flat exemption | $46,350 exemption off assessed value for all honorably discharged veterans (2024 amount, adjusted annually) | County Property Valuation Administrator |
| Louisiana | Full exemption | 100% SC disability = full exemption; surviving spouses also qualify | Parish Tax Assessor |
| Maine | Flat reduction | $6,000 reduction on just value for veterans; $6,000 for paraplegic veterans | Local Assessor |
| Maryland | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence; surviving spouses retain exemption | State Department of Assessments and Taxation |
| Massachusetts | Varies by status | $400–$1,500 exemption for veterans; $400+ for qualifying disabled veterans; varies by municipality | Local Assessor |
| Michigan | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence (PA 161) | Local Assessor / Treasurer |
| Minnesota | Market value exclusion | 100% P&T = up to $300,000 market value exclusion; others $150,000–$300,000 by rating | County Assessor |
| Mississippi | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on up to 160 acres; surviving spouses retain exemption | County Tax Assessor |
| Missouri | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full property tax exemption on primary residence (enacted 2023) | County Assessor |
| Montana | Flat reduction + income-based | $1,500 off assessed value; 100% disabled veterans may qualify for expanded assistance by income | County Assessor |
| Nebraska | Full exemption | 100% SC disability = full exemption; partial exemptions at 50–99% rating | County Assessor |
| Nevada | Flat tax reduction | Up to $3,640/year property tax exemption for veterans; 100% SC disability veterans eligible for additional relief | County Assessor |
| New Hampshire | Exemption / credit | $4,000 off assessed value for qualifying veterans; up to $700 credit for permanent/total disability | Local Assessor |
| New Jersey | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption; $250 annual deduction for all wartime veterans | Municipal Tax Assessor |
| New Mexico | Assessed value reduction | $4,000 off assessed value for 100% P&T veterans; income-tested veterans may qualify for expanded exemption | County Assessor |
| New York | Alternative exemption or eligible funds | 15–25% assessed value reduction for wartime/combat veterans; additional % for SC disability | Local Assessor |
| North Carolina | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence (up to 1 acre); $45,000 reduction for 50–99% ratings | County Tax Assessor |
| North Dakota | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence; $4,500 reduction for qualifying veterans | County Auditor |
| Ohio | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full homestead exemption on primary residence | County Auditor |
| Oklahoma | Full exemption | 100% SC disability = full exemption; other veterans: flat $1,000 exemption | County Assessor |
| Oregon | Varies by disability | $21,127 exemption for disabled veterans; additional amounts for higher disability ratings | County Assessor |
| Pennsylvania | Full exemption (most counties) | 100% P&T = full exemption; administered county by county | County Board of Assessment |
| Rhode Island | Flat reduction | $1,000 off assessed value for qualifying veterans; municipalities may increase | City/Town Tax Assessor |
| South Carolina | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence; surviving spouses retain exemption | County Auditor |
| South Dakota | Paraplegic exemption + assessment freeze | Full exemption for paraplegic veterans; assessment freeze for 100% SC disability | County Director of Equalization |
| Tennessee | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption; surviving spouses of veterans killed in action also qualify | County Assessor of Property |
| Texas | Full exemption (no dollar cap) | 100% P&T = 100% property tax exemption on primary residence; partial exemptions for lower ratings | County Appraisal District |
| Utah | Flat reduction | $1,110 off taxable value of primary residence for qualifying veterans | County Assessor |
| Vermont | Municipal exemption | Up to $40,000 off assessed value for qualifying veterans (municipality must opt in) | Town Clerk / Assessor |
| Virginia | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence; TDIU also qualifies; surviving spouses retain | Local Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Washington | Exemption / deferral | 100% P&T and income under $40,000 = full exemption; income $40,000–$60,000 = 50% reduction | County Assessor |
| West Virginia | Flat reduction | 100% P&T = full exemption; all veterans receive $20,000 homestead exemption if over 65 | County Assessor |
| Wisconsin | Full exemption | 100% P&T = full exemption on primary residence | Local Assessor |
| Wyoming | Flat reduction | $3,000 off assessed value for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses | County Assessor |
Sources: State department of veterans affairs, county assessor offices, Tax Foundation (2024), NASVA State Benefits Guide 2024–2025. Amounts subject to change; verify with your county assessor before filing.
Most property tax exemptions are administered at the county level, not the state level. This means the actual process involves contacting your county assessor, county tax collector, or equivalent local office — not the VA or a state agency.
If you're not sure whether your VA rating qualifies or which program applies, use our state benefits tool to look up your specific state's current requirements.
Many states extend property tax exemptions to the surviving spouses of qualifying veterans — particularly those who died from service-connected conditions or who held a 100% P&T rating at the time of death.
States with strong surviving spouse provisions include:
If you are the surviving spouse of a veteran with a 100% P&T rating, contact your county assessor's office immediately. You may be entitled to thousands of dollars per year in property tax savings that you're not currently receiving.
Most property tax exemptions are tied to a specific property. If you sell your home and buy a new one, you generally need to re-apply for the exemption on the new property.
Florida is the notable exception. Florida's veterans' disability exemptions — including the full 100% P&T homestead exemption and the additional $5,000 exemption — are transferable to a new primary residence within Florida. You don't lose the benefit simply because you moved to a different home within the state. This "portability" provision makes Florida particularly attractive for disabled veterans who anticipate relocating.
Always check your state's specific rules when purchasing a new home. Most states require you to file a new application at your new county assessor's office, but the approval process is typically quick for veterans who already have a P&T rating on file.
In many states, the difference between 90% and 100% P&T is the difference between a partial exemption and zero property taxes forever. Find out if your current conditions support a higher rating.
Check My Rating Potential — Free →No. Every state offers at least some exemption for veterans with lower ratings or simply for honorably discharged veterans. However, the best exemptions — including full property tax elimination — are typically reserved for 100% P&T veterans. Even a 10–30% SC disability rating can qualify you for meaningful savings in many states.
No. The VA administers your disability rating, but property tax exemptions are a state and local benefit. You apply through your county assessor or equivalent local office — not through the VA. The VA provides documentation (your rating letter) that you submit to the local office.
Property tax exemptions apply to your primary residence only. If you have a second home in another state, you typically cannot claim that state's exemption unless it is your primary residence. Use our state benefits comparison tool to see full details for any state.
Most states do not allow retroactive property tax exemptions for prior years. If you qualified for an exemption in 2022 but didn't apply until 2025, you typically only receive the exemption going forward. This is another reason to apply as soon as you receive a qualifying rating — every year you wait is a year of savings lost.
No. VA disability compensation is not reduced or "offset" by property tax savings. These are completely separate benefits from different government systems. Receiving a property tax exemption has zero effect on your monthly VA payment.