Nearly every state gives a service-connected disabled veteran a break on their property tax, and for a veteran rated 100 percent it is often a full exemption that zeroes out the bill. It is one of the largest concrete dollar benefits a disabled veteran can claim, and it is separate from federal VA disability compensation, pension, or Aid and Attendance. What you get turns on your VA disability rating, your state, and in some states your income.

The Three Kinds of Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption, State by State

Almost every state's rule fits one of three molds. Knowing which one your state uses tells you what to expect: a bill of zero, a smaller bill, or a check back for part of what you paid.

Model What It Does Who It Helps Most Example States
Full exemption Removes the entire home value from tax Veterans rated 100% / unemployable Texas, Virginia, Michigan
Partial exemption Removes a set amount or share of value Veterans at a range of ratings North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Colorado
Relief / reimbursement State pays part of the tax bill 100% veterans, up to a value cap Tennessee

A Full Exemption for Total Disability

The most valuable version. A veteran rated 100 percent service-connected, or rated totally disabled based on individual unemployability, pays no property tax at all on their primary residence.

Texas is the clearest example. Under Texas Tax Code Section 11.131, a veteran awarded 100 percent disability compensation from the VA for a 100 percent rating or a determination of individual unemployability is exempt from tax on the total appraised value of the residence homestead. Virginia does the same under its constitution and Code Section 58.1-3219.5 for a veteran with a 100 percent permanent service-connected disability. Michigan fully exempts the homestead of a veteran rated 100 percent or individually unemployable under MCL 211.7b.

Some full-exemption states add conditions. Pennsylvania grants a full exemption to a wartime veteran with a total or 100 percent permanent disability, but only after the State Veterans' Commission finds financial need; the income level below which need is presumed was $114,637 as of January 1, 2025.

A Partial Exemption for a Qualifying Rating

Most states that don't grant a full exemption instead take a fixed amount off the home's value for a veteran who meets the rating threshold, which is usually a total and permanent disability. The dollar amount doesn't change with the exact percentage in these states; it's a flat break for anyone who qualifies.

North Carolina excludes the first $45,000 of appraised value for a veteran with a permanent and total service-connected disability. Ohio's reduction for a veteran rated total and 100 percent, with no income test, runs off a statutory base of $50,000 of market value that is adjusted each year: the Ohio Department of Taxation certified $58,000 for tax year 2025 real property, and your county auditor has the current year's figure. Colorado exempts 50 percent of the first $200,000 of a home's actual value for an honorably discharged veteran who meets any one of three tests: a service-connected disability rated 100 percent and permanent by the VA, a disability rated 100 percent and permanent through disability retirement benefits administered by the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, or individual unemployability status as determined by the VA. Georgia ties its exemption to a federal figure that is adjusted over time, so the amount rises but doesn't turn on the exact rating.

A couple of states instead scale the amount to the disability percentage. Texas runs a scaled partial exemption for veterans below 100 percent: $5,000 of value for a 10 to 29 percent rating, rising to $12,000 for a 70 to 100 percent rating, under Texas Tax Code Section 11.22. Arizona exempts a statutory base amount of $4,188 (adjusted for inflation each year) for a veteran rated below 100 percent, multiplied by the disability percentage and subject to an income limit.

A Relief or Reimbursement Program

A few states don't exempt the property at all. Instead the state pays part of the bill.

Tennessee runs a Property Tax Relief program: for a veteran with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability, the state reimburses the tax on the first $175,000 of the home's value. The practical result resembles a partial exemption, but the mechanics differ: you pay and the state reimburses, so the paperwork and timing are not the same as an exemption that simply lowers the bill.

Who Qualifies for a Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption by State

Four things decide whether you can claim the benefit, and they change from state to state.

Your VA disability rating. This is the core test, and it is what separates this benefit from age-based senior relief. Full exemptions almost always require a 100 percent rating or a determination of individual unemployability. Partial exemptions may open at a lower rating, sometimes scaling with the percentage. Read your state's threshold before assuming you're in or out.

Income, in some states. Most rating-based exemptions have no income test. A minority do: Arizona caps household income, and Pennsylvania presumes need only below a set income level.,

Residency and ownership. The benefit applies to the veteran's primary residence, not a second home or rental, and you must own and live in it.

You have to apply. The benefit is almost never automatic. You file with a county office, usually the assessor, appraisal district, or tax office, and usually by a deadline. Miss it and you pay the full bill that year. Your state guide names the office, the form, and the date.

What Happens to a Surviving Spouse

Most states carry the benefit over to the veteran's surviving spouse, as long as the spouse has not remarried and continues to live in the home. The exact rule varies: some states require the spouse to hold title to the home, and some set a date the veteran must have died on or after. If you are the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, do not assume the exemption ended with your spouse; check your state's rule.

How This Fits With Your Other VA Benefits

This is a state benefit, layered on top of the VA disability rating the federal government already assigned you. It is a separate program from VA disability compensation, VA pension, and Aid and Attendance. You claim it at the county, not through the VA, and it is not part of your VA claim.

It is also different from the property-tax relief many states offer older homeowners based on age and income. That relief turns on being 65 or older and under an income cap; this one turns on a service-connected disability rating. If you are a disabled veteran who is also a senior, it is worth checking both, since a few states let you choose the better of the two or, occasionally, use one where you don't qualify for the other. Your state's senior property tax relief guide covers the age-based side.

Find Your State's Disabled Veteran Exemption

Pick your state below for a detailed guide: the disability rating it requires, the exemption amount or relief, the surviving-spouse rule, and where and when to file. We're adding states as we verify each one's rules against its official sources.

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Learn More

VA BenefitsVA Benefits for Senior Care: The Complete GuideA complete guide to VA benefits for senior care: long-term care, Aid and Attendance, pensions, DIC, and home grants for older veterans and surviving spouses. VA BenefitsVA Aid and AttendanceVA Aid and Attendance explained: the 2026 monthly amounts, who qualifies, the medical-expense rule that unlocks it, what it pays for, and how to apply. VA BenefitsVA Veterans PensionVA pension for wartime veterans: 2026 eligibility, MAPR rates, net worth limit, and how to apply for this needs-based monthly benefit for low-income seniors. FinancialSenior Property Tax Relief by StateSenior property tax relief lowers what older homeowners owe through exemptions, freezes, credits, and deferrals. Learn how each works and find your state.

Find personalized help claiming your state's disabled veteran property tax exemption at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.