Every state offers benefits to veterans on top of what the federal Department of Veterans Affairs provides: state property tax exemptions, state income tax breaks, state tuition waivers, state vehicle fee reductions, and more. Many veterans have never looked at what their state offers them.
What Veteran Benefits Do the States Offer?
The benefits provided by federal VA are the same regardless of where you live. What changes state by state is everything on top of that — and in many states, the additional benefits available to veterans are substantial, specific and largely unclaimed because nobody told veterans to look for them.
Every state in the country offers some form of veterans benefit beyond federal programs. Most veterans have claimed none of it. Here is what exists and how to find what your state offers.
Read More: State Tax Information for Military Members and Retirees
Property Tax Exemptions: The Biggest One Most Veterans Miss
This is where the largest dollar amounts live. Twenty-two states currently offer a full homestead property tax exemption for veterans rated 100 percent permanently and totally (P&T) disabled — meaning a $0 property tax bill on your primary residence. Texas exempts the full appraised value of a qualifying veteran’s residence homestead from property taxation for 100 percent disabled or “individual unemployability” veterans. Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Michigan, Maryland and New Mexico operate under similar full-exemption frameworks.
In 2026, California’s basic exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans is $180,671, with a low-income exemption of $271,009 for households earning under $81,131. Starting in 2026, New Mexico expanded eligibility so that any veteran with a VA disability rating — not just 100 percent — qualifies for a proportional property tax exemption based on their rating percentage. The median U.S. property tax bill is approximately $2,795 per year. A full exemption is real money, and none of it is automatic. You have to apply through your county assessor, not through the VA.
Income Tax Benefits on Military Retirement Pay
Several states exempt military retirement pay from state income tax entirely, including Alabama, where active-duty pay, retired pay, and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are completely tax-free. California now exempts up to $20,000 of military retirement pay for retirees with adjusted gross income under $125,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint). Nine states have no income tax at all, meaning retirement pay is untaxed by default. If you are a military retiree and have never checked whether your state taxes your retirement pay, check now: The answer could change your annual tax bill significantly.
Other Benefits That Are Rarely Claimed
These are commonly available state benefits. Check to see what yours offers:
Read More: Your 2026 State Veteran Benefits
- Vehicle registration and license plate fees. Many states offer reduced or waived fees for disabled veterans. Many offer specialty plates at no charge. Some states waive fees entirely for 100% P&T veterans.
- Hunting and fishing licenses. The majority of states offer free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses to veterans, particularly those with service-connected disabilities.
- In-state tuition waivers. Many states waive in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for veterans and, in some states, their dependents. Eligibility rules vary. Some require a certain disability rating; others are open to all honorably discharged veterans.
- Business license fee waivers. Several states waive or reduce business license fees for veteran-owned businesses. This benefit is almost universally unclaimed because veterans do not know to ask.
- Employment preference points. State government employment applications in most states award preference points to veterans in the hiring process. Federal employment does the same. If you are applying for state or federal jobs and not claiming your preference, you are leaving a meaningful advantage unused.
- State cemetery and burial benefits. Most states operate veterans cemeteries that provide free burial and grave markers for eligible veterans. Many families do not know their state has one.
How to Find What Your State Offers
Military.com’s directory of state veteran benefits includes all these benefits and more.
The VA maintains a state-by-state benefits directory at benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp. Every state also has a state veterans department; most have a searchable benefits database on their websites. The National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (nasdva.us) links to every state agency in one place.
Property tax exemptions are applied through your county assessor or appraisal district, not the VA and not your state veterans agency. Bring your VA rating letter showing your current rating and P&T status, proof of primary residence, and completed application form. Most counties process these annually and have a deadline. Missing the deadline in your county can mean waiting another full year. Check the deadline first, then gather the documents.
The combined value of state benefits available to a 100 percent P&T veteran in a state such as Texas — full property tax exemption, vehicle fee waivers, free hunting and fishing license, in-state tuition for dependents, and employment preference — can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over time. None of it is automatic. All of it requires applying. Most of it requires nothing more than a rating letter and a form.
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