Dear Raider,
Home values went up so much last year that our property taxes have increased dramatically. My husband is a disabled veteran. Are there any programs where disabled veterans can get a property tax break or even have them waived? Thanks so much for your help!
Payton Tacksess
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Dear Payton,
Thank you to your husband for serving our country.
Good news! After a multi-year, nationwide effort to lessen the financial strain on qualified disabled veterans, almost every state in the US offers some sort of property tax exemption for disabled veterans.
“If you’re a disabled veteran, in almost every single jurisdiction, you can petition your local taxing authority and you can have all of your local real estate taxes waived,” said Mike Frueh, former National Director of the VA Home Loan program. “That’s a fantastic benefit.” And that benefit could save you many thousands of dollars here in the DMV, where property taxes are extremely high.
While every veteran’s situation differs, many states only offer property tax exemptions for wartime veterans, disabled veterans, surviving spouses, veterans over 65 years old, or veterans with low income.
Veteran Property Tax Exemption Amount
The total exemption amount varies from state to state. There are many factors impacting the total tax exemption or credit you’ll receive such as disability rating, assessed property value, age, and income. Let’s look at property tax exemptions for veteran homeowners in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
Virginia
In Virginia, veterans with a 100 percent disability rating from military service and who were alive on or after Jan. 1, 2011, may be eligible for a property tax exemption on their primary residence. Some veterans are rated as less than 100 percent disabled, but the VA still qualifies them as 100 percent disabled due to individual unemployability; these veterans may also qualify. Surviving spouses of 100 percent disabled veterans may also qualify for the exemption so long as they remain unmarried and occupy the primary residence. Learn more here.
Maryland
Veterans with permanent service-connected disabilities may receive a full property tax exemption on their primary residence. These veterans do not have to meet the September 1 filing date. Surviving spouses may also apply for the exemption if the veteran has died. Learn more here.
Washington, DC
Effective October 1, 2022, residential real property owned by a veteran who has been classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as having a total and permanent disability as a result of a service-incurred or service-aggravated condition or is paid at the 100 percent disability rating level as a result of unemployability, is eligible for reduction in assessed value of $445,000, provided that:
- The property must be occupied by the disabled veteran and contain no more than five dwelling units (including the unit occupied by the owner);
- The property must be the principal residence of the disabled veteran;
- The disabled veteran must have at least 50 percent ownership of the property as shown by deed;
- The disabled veteran must be domiciled in the district; and
- Total household income cannot exceed the limit applicable to Senior/Disabled Tax Relief, currently $139,900 for TY 2022.
Learn more here.
How Veteran Property Tax Exemptions Work
Many states offer exemptions solely for disabled veterans. However, every homeowner’s situation is different. Here are some important things to remember about property tax exemptions:
- Common exemptions include veteran, disabled veteran, homestead, over 65, and more;
- Not all veterans or homeowners qualify for these exemptions;
- Exemptions can vary by county and state;
- You may be required to renew your exemption benefits annually.
Hope this is helpful,
Raider
About Renee Eder
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