Mississippi Veteran Benefits 2026: Property Tax Exemptions and Military Retired Pay Tax
The state benefits Mississippi 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.
Mississippi fully exempts the homestead of an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability from all property (ad valorem) taxes, and the exemption continues for the unremarried surviving spouse. Honorably discharged veterans aged 90 or older (and their unremarried surviving spouses), and unremarried surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty, also get a full exemption. Military retired pay is not taxed: Mississippi exempts all retirement income from federal, state and private retirement systems. Other state benefits include $1 plates for disabled veterans, free hunting and fishing licenses for totally disabled veterans, in-state tuition, preference for state jobs and no daily charge at state veterans homes for veterans rated 70% or higher. (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 for veterans in Mississippi
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | How to apply | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total homestead exemption for totally disabled veterans (Homestead Exemption Tier 3) | Honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability who owns and lives in the home as a primary residence on January 1, and the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse. No income limit. | Full exemption: all ad valorem (property) taxes on the homestead | Apply at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1, with proof of the service-connected total disability. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1. Once approved, the exemption is credited each year without refiling unless ownership, use, occupancy or the property description changes. | Mississippi Department of Revenue: Homestead Exemption |
| Total homestead exemption for veterans aged 90 or older (Homestead Exemption Tier 3) | Honorably discharged veteran aged 90 or older on or before January 1, and the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse. The applicant must own and occupy the home as a primary residence on January 1. | Full exemption from all property taxes on the homestead | Apply in person at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1 | Mississippi Department of Revenue: Homestead Exemption |
| Total homestead exemption for surviving spouses of service members who died on duty (Homestead Exemption Tier 3) | Unremarried surviving spouse of a U.S. Armed Forces member killed or who died on active duty, or of a reserve or National Guard member killed or who died on active duty for training | Full exemption from all property taxes on the homestead | Apply in person at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1 | Mississippi Department of Revenue: Homestead Exemption |
Is military retired pay taxed in Mississippi?
| Treatment | Amount or limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fully exempt. The 2025 Form 80-100 instructions (Rev. 12/25) state that Social Security, Railroad Retirement benefits and retirement income from federal, state and private retirement systems are exempt in total. Military retired pay is paid by a federal retirement system, so it falls under this rule. Early or excess distributions (taxable under federal Form 5329) and separation pay do not qualify. Separately, National Guard and reserve members can exclude the lesser of their Guard or reserve pay or $15,000 per taxpayer. | No limit: 100% exempt (tax year 2025 instructions, the latest the state has published) | dor.ms.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.
Other Mississippi veteran benefits
Vehicles and license plates
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled American Veteran license plates for $1 | Mississippi resident veteran whose service-connected disability the VA rates 100% permanent and total, or 70% or higher if not permanent and total, and the veteran's unmarried surviving spouse | $1.00 per plate in total cost, bought annually in the county of residence | msva.ms.gov |
| Free Purple Heart license plate | Mississippi resident with written proof of a Purple Heart awarded during U.S. Armed Forces service. An unmarried surviving spouse may keep one plate. | One free plate for a private passenger vehicle. The surviving spouse's plate is exempt from taxes and fees. | msva.ms.gov |
| Ex-Prisoner of War and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates | Mississippi resident who was a prisoner of war or who received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the unmarried surviving spouse of either | One plate a year for a private passenger vehicle or pickup truck, exempt from all motor vehicle registration fees and privilege taxes | msva.ms.gov |
Hunting, fishing and other licenses
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free hunting and fishing licenses | Veterans with a total service-connected disability rated by the VA. While hunting or fishing, they must carry proof of age, residency and disability status. | No license purchase required | msva.ms.gov |
| Concealed weapon permit fee exemption | Veterans with a service-connected disability who have lived in Mississippi for the required period immediately before applying (waivable if the applicant holds a valid permit from another state, is active military stationed in Mississippi, or is a retired law-enforcement officer establishing residency) | Exempt from concealed weapon permit fees and renewal fees | msva.ms.gov |
Education
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition for nonresident veterans | Any veteran as defined by Title 38 of the U.S. Code, or any person entitled to Title 38 education benefits | Charged in-state tuition rates | msva.ms.gov |
| Scholarship for children of POW/MIA service members | Children of a service member whose official home of record and residence is in Mississippi and who is officially reported as a prisoner of war or missing in action | Eight-semester scholarship at no cost at any state-supported college or university. Books, food, school supplies, materials and extracurricular dues or fees are not covered. | msva.ms.gov |
Employment
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans' preference in state employment | Veterans and disabled veterans applying for state service jobs | The State Personnel Board marks veteran or disabled veteran status on the lists of eligible applicants sent to hiring agencies. In state layoffs, veterans get preference and disabled veterans get additional preference. | msva.ms.gov |
State veterans homes
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State veterans nursing homes (Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko and Oxford), with no daily charge for higher-rated veterans | Admission: a current or former Mississippi resident with qualifying military service, discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Spouses of veterans living in a home may also qualify. No daily charge applies to residents who need nursing care for a VA-adjudicated service-connected disability, are rated 70% or higher, or are rated 100% for individual unemployability. | Daily resident charge waived for those groups. Indigent veterans can ask for help with the cost of care. | msva.ms.gov |
Other benefits
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans Home Purchase Board low-interest mortgage loans | Veterans who were Mississippi residents before entering service or for 2 consecutive years before applying, discharged under honorable conditions, with a VA Certificate of Eligibility. Unmarried surviving spouses also qualify. | Low-interest mortgage loans of up to $300,000 to buy an existing single-family home or build a new one (2024-2025 MSVA guidebook figure, the latest edition published) | msva.ms.gov |
Common questions
Does Mississippi have a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?
Mississippi lists 3 veteran property tax benefits. The main one: Total homestead exemption for totally disabled veterans (Homestead Exemption Tier 3). Who qualifies: Honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability who owns and lives in the home as a primary residence on January 1, and the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse. No income limit.. Amount: Full exemption: all ad valorem (property) taxes on the homestead (Mississippi Department of Revenue: Homestead Exemption).
How do I apply for the Mississippi veteran property tax exemption?
Apply at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1, with proof of the service-connected total disability. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1. Once approved, the exemption is credited each year without refiling unless ownership, use, occupancy or the property description changes. (Mississippi Department of Revenue: Homestead Exemption).
Does Mississippi tax military retirement pay?
Fully exempt. The 2025 Form 80-100 instructions (Rev. 12/25) state that Social Security, Railroad Retirement benefits and retirement income from federal, state and private retirement systems are exempt in total. Military retired pay is paid by a federal retirement system, so it falls under this rule. Early or excess distributions (taxable under federal Form 5329) and separation pay do not qualify. Separately, National Guard and reserve members can exclude the lesser of their Guard or reserve pay or $15,000 per taxpayer. Amount or limit: No limit: 100% exempt (tax year 2025 instructions, the latest the state has published) (dor.ms.gov).
What other benefits do veterans get in Mississippi?
Disabled American Veteran license plates for $1 (msva.ms.gov); Free Purple Heart license plate (msva.ms.gov); Ex-Prisoner of War and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates (msva.ms.gov); Free hunting and fishing licenses (msva.ms.gov); Concealed weapon permit fee exemption (msva.ms.gov); In-state tuition for nonresident veterans (msva.ms.gov); Scholarship for children of POW/MIA service members (msva.ms.gov); State veterans nursing homes (Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko and Oxford), with no daily charge for higher-rated veterans (msva.ms.gov); Veterans' preference in state employment (msva.ms.gov); Veterans Home Purchase Board low-interest mortgage loans (msva.ms.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.
Related
Mississippi senior property tax relief → Mississippi 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 →