Georgia Veteran Benefits 2026: Property Tax Exemptions and Military Retired Pay Tax

The state benefits Georgia gives veterans and their surviving spouses: property tax exemptions, how the state taxes military retired pay, and other benefits, each with who qualifies, the amount, how to apply and the official source.

Georgia exempts a large, federally indexed amount of a qualifying disabled veteran's home value from all property taxes: state, county, municipal and school. The Department of Revenue lists $121,812 for 2025. The amount is pegged to the VA Specially Adapted Housing maximum, which is $126,526 for FY2026. Military retired pay is partly excluded from state income tax: under age 62, up to $17,500, plus another $17,500 if the retiree has more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income. From age 62 the general retirement exclusion applies, up to $35,000 at 62-64 and $65,000 at 65+. Other benefits include free Disabled Veteran plates with a vehicle ad valorem/TAVT exemption on one vehicle, state hiring preference points, discounted hunting/fishing licenses, and two state war veterans nursing homes. (sources)

Official sources Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. This page lists only benefits confirmed on an official state or federal page; counties and cities may offer more.

Property tax exemptions
Military retired pay tax
Other veteran benefits
Common questions

Property tax exemptions for veterans in Georgia

Georgia property tax benefits for veterans and surviving spouses (checked November 4, 2026)
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	How to apply	Source
Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption (O.C.G.A. 48-5-48)	Honorably discharged Georgia resident veteran who owns and occupies the home as a primary residence and meets one of these: VA-rated 100% permanent and total; rated below 100% but paid at the 100% rate for individual unemployability; or entitled to a VA statutory award for loss or loss of use of one or both feet or hands, loss of sight in one or both eyes, or permanent impairment of both eyes. No income limit.	The greater of $32,500 or the 38 U.S.C. 2102 maximum, applied against all state, county, municipal and school taxes. DOR lists $121,812 for tax year 2025. The index (VA Specially Adapted Housing maximum) is $126,526 for FY2026. Value above the exemption remains taxable.	File the homestead exemption application (LGS-Homestead) with the county tax commissioner, or the assessor where delegated, with the VA letter, by the county's April 1 property tax return deadline.	Georgia Department of Revenue
Disabled veteran exemption continued for surviving spouse or minor children	Unremarried surviving spouse or minor children of a qualifying disabled veteran who continue to occupy the home as a residence.	Same as the veteran's exemption ($121,812 for 2025 per DOR; indexed to 38 U.S.C. 2102)	Apply to the county tax commissioner/assessor using the homestead exemption application.	Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Surviving Spouse of a U.S. Service Member Homestead Exemption (O.C.G.A. 48-5-52.1)	Unremarried surviving spouse of a U.S. armed forces member who was killed in, or died as a result of, a war or armed conflict. Eligibility continues while the spouse does not remarry.	$60,000 plus an additional sum indexed by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. DOR lists $121,812 for 2025. Applies to county, municipal and school taxes.	File the homestead exemption application with the county tax commissioner/assessor by April 1.	Georgia Department of Revenue

Is military retired pay taxed in Georgia?

Georgia state income tax on military retired pay (checked November 4, 2026)
Treatment	Amount or limit	Source
Partial exclusion. Under age 62: $17,500 of military retirement income is excluded, plus an additional $17,500 for taxpayers with more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income (rule in effect since tax year 2022). Each spouse qualifies separately. From age 62 the general retirement income exclusion applies. Exclusion rules confirmed on DOR's Retirement Income Exclusion page (https://dor.georgia.gov/retirement-income-exclusion).	Under 62: up to $17,500, or up to $35,000 with more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income. Ages 62-64: up to $35,000. Age 65+: up to $65,000 (general retirement exclusion; see the Form IT-511 worksheet).	veterans.georgia.gov

For the dollars this treatment adds to (or saves on) a retiree’s state tax in 2026, see the military retirement tax by state study; for the pension itself, the military retirement pay calculator.

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Other Georgia veteran benefits

Vehicles and license plates

Georgia: vehicles and license plates for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Free Disabled Veteran license plates	Georgia resident on current active duty or honorably discharged with a qualifying disability: 100% totally and permanently disabled; 100% totally disabled, nonpermanent (annual recertification required); loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands; loss of sight in one or both eyes; or permanent impairment of both eyes. Also available to an unremarried surviving spouse.	Free plates for up to two passenger cars or motorcycles for personal use	dor.georgia.gov
Vehicle ad valorem / title ad valorem tax (TAVT) exemption	Veterans verified by VA as 100% totally and permanently service-connected disabled, or rated unemployable and receiving or entitled to qualifying VA statutory awards (loss or loss of use of feet or hands, loss of sight, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes). Veterans who qualify for the Purple Heart or Medal of Honor specialty plates are also exempt.	Full exemption from the applicable annual ad valorem tax or title ad valorem tax on ONE vehicle the veteran owns (usually the vehicle with the DV plate)	veterans.georgia.gov
State sales tax exemption on a VA-grant adapted vehicle	Disabled veteran buying a vehicle with a VA grant for purchase and special adaptation	Exempt from state sales tax, for the original grant only	veterans.georgia.gov
Free veteran specialty plates (Commemorative Service, Military Medal Award, Retired Military Veterans', Prisoner of War, National Guard, Reserve Component, Gold Star)	Georgia residents meeting each plate's service criteria, such as combat-era service, a qualifying medal, or retirement from active duty. Also available to unremarried surviving spouses.	First plate is free. On most plates, one additional specialty plate costs a $25 manufacturing fee plus a $25 annual registration fee. The Chosin and Pearl Harbor Survivor plates are not free.	dor.georgia.gov

Hunting, fishing and other licenses

Georgia: hunting, fishing and other licenses for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
One Time Veterans Hunting and Fishing License	Georgia resident veterans with 90+ days of active federal duty, honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005. Can be issued only once.	Free full-privilege sportsman's license valid for one year (per the GDVS 2024 benefits summary)	veterans.georgia.gov
Discounted lifetime sportsman's license and disability license	Honorably discharged Georgia resident veterans. The disability license is for veterans with a P&T disability rating.	Adult Lifetime Sportsman's License at a 20% discount ($600, ages 16-49). Prices are from the GDVS 2024 summary. Veterans with a P&T rating qualify for a 3-year disability sportsman's license at a steep discount.	veterans.georgia.gov

Employment

Georgia: employment for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
State of Georgia hiring preference	5 points: veterans who served on active duty during an armed conflict. 10 points: veterans with a VA service-connected rating of 10% or more; veterans over 55 receiving disability pension or compensation; spouses of disabled veterans disqualified from work by the disability; and unremarried widows/widowers of deceased wartime veterans.	5-point or 10-point credit	veterans.georgia.gov

State veterans homes

Georgia: state veterans homes for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Georgia War Veterans Homes (Augusta, 192 beds; Milledgeville, 550 beds), skilled nursing	Georgia resident (two years immediately before applying, or 5 of the past 15 years) with qualifying-period active duty, a discharge other than dishonorable, and VA approval for skilled nursing care	Nominal daily fee. No fee for veterans rated 70%+ service-connected or admitted for a service-connected condition (VA pays in full).	veterans.georgia.gov

Other benefits

Georgia: other benefits for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
State park entrance fee reduction	Georgia veterans discharged from the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions	25% off entrance fees to state parks, historic sites and recreational areas	veterans.georgia.gov

Common questions

Does Georgia have a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?

Georgia lists 3 veteran property tax benefits. The main one: Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption (O.C.G.A. 48-5-48). Who qualifies: Honorably discharged Georgia resident veteran who owns and occupies the home as a primary residence and meets one of these: VA-rated 100% permanent and total; rated below 100% but paid at the 100% rate for individual unemployability; or entitled to a VA statutory award for loss or loss of use of one or both feet or hands, loss of sight in one or both eyes, or permanent impairment of both eyes. No income limit.. Amount: The greater of $32,500 or the 38 U.S.C. 2102 maximum, applied against all state, county, municipal and school taxes. DOR lists $121,812 for tax year 2025. The index (VA Specially Adapted Housing maximum) is $126,526 for FY2026. Value above the exemption remains taxable. (Georgia Department of Revenue - Property Tax Homestead Exemptions).

How do I apply for the Georgia veteran property tax exemption?

File the homestead exemption application (LGS-Homestead) with the county tax commissioner, or the assessor where delegated, with the VA letter, by the county's April 1 property tax return deadline. (Georgia Department of Revenue - Property Tax Homestead Exemptions).

Does Georgia tax military retirement pay?

Partial exclusion. Under age 62: $17,500 of military retirement income is excluded, plus an additional $17,500 for taxpayers with more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income (rule in effect since tax year 2022). Each spouse qualifies separately. From age 62 the general retirement income exclusion applies. Exclusion rules confirmed on DOR's Retirement Income Exclusion page (https://dor.georgia.gov/retirement-income-exclusion). Amount or limit: Under 62: up to $17,500, or up to $35,000 with more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income. Ages 62-64: up to $35,000. Age 65+: up to $65,000 (general retirement exclusion; see the Form IT-511 worksheet). (veterans.georgia.gov).

What other benefits do veterans get in Georgia?

Free Disabled Veteran license plates (dor.georgia.gov); Vehicle ad valorem / title ad valorem tax (TAVT) exemption (veterans.georgia.gov); State sales tax exemption on a VA-grant adapted vehicle (veterans.georgia.gov); Free veteran specialty plates (Commemorative Service, Military Medal Award, Retired Military Veterans', Prisoner of War, National Guard, Reserve Component, Gold Star) (dor.georgia.gov); State of Georgia hiring preference (veterans.georgia.gov); One Time Veterans Hunting and Fishing License (veterans.georgia.gov); Discounted lifetime sportsman's license and disability license (veterans.georgia.gov); Georgia War Veterans Homes (Augusta, 192 beds; Milledgeville, 550 beds), skilled nursing (veterans.georgia.gov); State park entrance fee reduction (veterans.georgia.gov). Who qualifies and the amounts are in the tables above.

Sources

Every row above is copied from the official page linked beside it. Benefits change with new laws and local decisions, so confirm the amount and the deadline with the office that runs the program before you apply. QuantCalc is calculation software, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Last updated November 4, 2026.

Georgia senior property tax relief → Georgia state income tax for retirees → Veteran benefits in every state → Military retirement tax by state 2026 → Military retirement pay calculator → 2026 VA disability rates → Military retiree and VA COLA 2027 → VA loan limits 2026 →