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

The state benefits Virginia 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.

Virginia fully exempts the home (and up to one acre, or more if the locality exempts more for seniors) of a veteran rated 100% service-connected, permanent and total, and the exemption continues for the unremarried surviving spouse; surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty get a separate exemption capped at the locality's average home value. Military retirement income is subtractable from Virginia taxable income up to $40,000 per year for taxable years 2025 and later, at any age. Other state benefits include a personal property tax exemption on one vehicle for 100% P&T veterans, free annual registration with DV plates, VMSDEP tuition waivers for dependents, discounted or free lifetime hunting/fishing licenses, and state-hiring preference points. (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 Virginia

Virginia property tax benefits for veterans and surviving spouses (checked November 4, 2026)
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	How to apply	Source
Real property tax exemption for 100% permanent and total disabled veterans (dwelling plus land)	Veteran rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability, who occupies the property as principal residence. Held alone, jointly with spouse, via life estate, or qualifying revocable/irrevocable trust. No age or income limit.	Full exemption of the dwelling and up to one acre of land (more acreage if the locality exempts/defers more than one acre for elderly/disabled relief); also non-business outbuildings on that acreage used to house vehicles or household goods. Prorated if non-qualifying co-owners have occupancy rights.	File once with the local commissioner of the revenue (or designated local officer) an affidavit/written statement plus VA documentation of the 100% P&T rating; refile only if the principal residence changes. May pre-apply with a purchase agreement (decision within 20 business days). Code of Va. § 58.1-3219.6.	Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5
Continuation of the 100% P&T disabled veteran exemption for the surviving spouse	Surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified (100% service-connected P&T rating) and died on or after January 1, 2011; spouse must not remarry and must occupy the property as principal residence.	Full exemption of the dwelling and up to one acre (same terms as the veteran's exemption); the spouse may move to a different principal residence and keep the exemption.	File affidavit/written statement with the local commissioner of the revenue with the veteran's VA rating documentation and evidence of the date of death (Code of Va. § 58.1-3219.6).	Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5
Real property tax exemption for surviving spouses of service members killed in action / in the line of duty	Surviving spouse of a U.S. armed forces member who died in the line of duty (including by suicide) with a Department of Defense Line of Duty determination; occupies the dwelling as principal residence; has not remarried. Tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.	Exempts the portion of the dwelling's assessed value up to the locality's average assessed value of single-family homes for the most recently ended tax year (value above that is taxable), plus up to one acre of land (more if the locality's elderly/disabled program exempts more). Exemption follows the spouse to a new principal residence.	File the affidavit/written statement required by Code of Va. § 58.1-3219.10 with the local commissioner of the revenue (or designated officer).	Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.9

Is military retired pay taxed in Virginia?

Virginia state income tax on military retired pay (checked November 4, 2026)
Treatment	Amount or limit	Source
Partial subtraction from Virginia taxable income for military retirement income and military benefits (any age for taxable years 2024 and later; age 55+ was required for the 2022-2023 phase-in). Congressional Medal of Honor recipients may subtract all military retirement income. Cannot double-claim the same income under another subtraction.	Up to $40,000 per year for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2025 (tax year 2026: $40,000). Phase-in: $10,000 (2022), $20,000 (2023), $30,000 (2024). Medal of Honor recipients: full exclusion.	law.lis.virginia.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 Virginia veteran benefits

Vehicles and license plates

Virginia: vehicles and license plates for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Personal property tax exemption on one motor vehicle	Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or Virginia National Guard rated 100% service-connected, permanent and total by the VA (vehicle may be owned by either spouse). Ends at the veteran's death; does not pass to the surviving spouse.	Full exemption from local personal property tax on one passenger car, pickup or panel truck owned and used primarily by or for the veteran (effective for periods on/after January 1, 2021); apply through the locality.	law.lis.virginia.gov
Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates and waiver of annual registration fee	Veteran certified by the U.S. VA as having a service-connected disability, or the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse; DV disabled-parking version requires additional certification of a walking impairment.	No annual registration fee for one vehicle owned and personally used by the veteran or unremarried surviving spouse that displays DV plates or standard passenger plates.	law.lis.virginia.gov

Hunting, fishing and other licenses

Virginia: hunting, fishing and other licenses for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Lifetime hunting and/or freshwater fishing license for resident disabled veterans	Virginia resident veteran with a VA service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.	100% P&T: free; 70% to under 100%: $50; 50% to under 70%: $75; 30% to under 50%: $100 (does not cover designated stocked trout waters).	law.lis.virginia.gov
Half-price nonresident basic hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans	Nonresident veteran rated by the VA with at least a 70% service-connected disability.	50% of the standard nonresident basic hunting and basic fishing license fees.	law.lis.virginia.gov

Education

Virginia: education for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) — tuition and mandatory fee waiver plus stipend	Spouse, or child aged 16-29, of a veteran rated by the VA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90% permanently disabled from qualifying service (discharged other than dishonorably), or of a service member killed, MIA or POW in qualifying service; Virginia domicile requirements apply (e.g. service member domiciled in Virginia at entry or for at least 5 years before application/death); dependents over 29 may be certified for extenuating circumstances; certified by the Commissioner of Veterans Services.	Waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia public institutions of higher education, plus a stipend of up to $2,000 (or the amount in the appropriation act) for room/board, books and other expenses; total aid capped at actual costs.	law.lis.virginia.gov

Employment

Virginia: employment for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Veterans preference in state government employment	Honorably discharged veteran with more than 180 consecutive days of active duty or a VA service-connected disability rating; surviving spouses and children (under 27) of veterans killed in the line of duty; National Guard members.	5% added to passing written-exam scores (10% for veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating); preference in non-exam selection with additional consideration for disabled veterans.	law.lis.virginia.gov

Common questions

Does Virginia have a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?

Virginia lists 3 veteran property tax benefits. The main one: Real property tax exemption for 100% permanent and total disabled veterans (dwelling plus land). Who qualifies: Veteran rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability, who occupies the property as principal residence. Held alone, jointly with spouse, via life estate, or qualifying revocable/irrevocable trust. No age or income limit.. Amount: Full exemption of the dwelling and up to one acre of land (more acreage if the locality exempts/defers more than one acre for elderly/disabled relief); also non-business outbuildings on that acreage used to house vehicles or household goods. Prorated if non-qualifying co-owners have occupancy rights. (Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5 — Exemption from taxes on property for disabled veterans).

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

File once with the local commissioner of the revenue (or designated local officer) an affidavit/written statement plus VA documentation of the 100% P&T rating; refile only if the principal residence changes. May pre-apply with a purchase agreement (decision within 20 business days). Code of Va. § 58.1-3219.6. (Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5 — Exemption from taxes on property for disabled veterans).

Does Virginia tax military retirement pay?

Partial subtraction from Virginia taxable income for military retirement income and military benefits (any age for taxable years 2024 and later; age 55+ was required for the 2022-2023 phase-in). Congressional Medal of Honor recipients may subtract all military retirement income. Cannot double-claim the same income under another subtraction. Amount or limit: Up to $40,000 per year for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2025 (tax year 2026: $40,000). Phase-in: $10,000 (2022), $20,000 (2023), $30,000 (2024). Medal of Honor recipients: full exclusion. (law.lis.virginia.gov).

What other benefits do veterans get in Virginia?

Personal property tax exemption on one motor vehicle (law.lis.virginia.gov); Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates and waiver of annual registration fee (law.lis.virginia.gov); Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) — tuition and mandatory fee waiver plus stipend (law.lis.virginia.gov); Lifetime hunting and/or freshwater fishing license for resident disabled veterans (law.lis.virginia.gov); Half-price nonresident basic hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans (law.lis.virginia.gov); Veterans preference in state government employment (law.lis.virginia.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.

Virginia senior property tax relief → Virginia 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 →