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

The state benefits Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin has no veteran property tax exemption on the assessment roll. Instead, its refundable Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit refunds 100% of the property taxes paid on a principal home and up to one acre. It covers veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (or 100% through individual unemployability) and certain unremarried surviving spouses. Military and uniformed-services retired pay, including Survivor Benefit Plan payments, is fully exempt from Wisconsin income tax. Other benefits include the Wisconsin GI Bill tuition remission, park passes for disabled veterans, hunting and fishing perks, three state veterans homes and non-competitive state hiring for veterans rated 30% 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
Military retired pay tax
Other veteran benefits
Common questions

Property tax exemptions for veterans in Wisconsin

Wisconsin property tax benefits for veterans and surviving spouses (checked November 4, 2026)
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	How to apply	Source
Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit (refundable income tax credit, sec. 71.07(6e), Wis. Stats.)	Veteran certified by WDVA who served on active duty under honorable conditions, entered service as a Wisconsin resident or lived in Wisconsin for any 5 consecutive years after entering active duty, is a current Wisconsin resident, and has a 100% service-connected disability rating (38 USC 1114 or 1134) or a 100% rating based on individual unemployability. Also covers an unremarried surviving spouse of: a veteran with that rating who was a Wisconsin resident at death; a service member who died on active duty (or a Guard or Reserve member who died in the line of duty during training) while a Wisconsin resident; or a veteran who was a Wisconsin resident at death and whose spouse receives DIC. No age or income limit. Full-year residents claim it on Form 1 and part-year residents on Form 1NPR. Nonresidents are not eligible. A claimant who takes this credit cannot claim the homestead credit on the same property taxes.	100% of the property taxes paid during the year on the principal dwelling in Wisconsin and up to 1 acre of land. Special assessments, delinquent interest, service charges and any portion deductible as a business expense are excluded. For joint ownership, only the claimant's ownership percentage counts; for farm or business property only the personal-residence share qualifies. Refundable.	Get WDVA eligibility certification through your County or Tribal Veterans Service Officer (CVSO/TVSO), then claim the credit on your Wisconsin income tax return (Form 1, line 34, for full-year residents or Form 1NPR, line 64, for part-year residents).	Wisconsin DOR Publication 128 (1/26), Wisconsin Tax Information for Military Personnel and Veterans, section 4.G; WDVA Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit page (https://dva.wi.gov/services/housing-and-financial-services/property-tax-credit/)

Is military retired pay taxed in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin state income tax on military retired pay (checked November 4, 2026)
Treatment	Amount or limit	Source
Fully exempt. All retirement payments from the U.S. military retirement system (paid by DFAS), including Survivor Benefit Plan payments, are exempt from Wisconsin income tax under sec. 71.05(1)(am) and (an), Wis. Stats. Retirement pay for service with the Coast Guard, the NOAA commissioned corps and the Public Health Service commissioned corps is also exempt. Claim it as a subtraction on Schedule SB, line 12 (Form 1) or Schedule M, line 46 (Form 1NPR).	No dollar cap. The subtraction is limited to the amount of such retirement pay included in federal AGI (tax year 2025 forms; DOR Pub 128 dated 1/26).	revenue.wi.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 Wisconsin veteran benefits

Vehicles and license plates

Wisconsin: vehicles and license plates for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Disabled Veteran parking license plates	Wisconsin motorist who is a veteran certified by a VA health care specialist as having a permanent disability from active U.S. military service that limits or impairs walking. The vehicle must be titled to the disabled veteran.	Disabled-parking privileges: reserved spaces, exemption from parking time limits of 30 minutes or more, and free use of municipal metered spaces with limits of 30 minutes or more. The regular annual registration fee still applies, plus an optional $15 per year to personalize the plates.	wisconsindot.gov

Hunting, fishing and other licenses

Wisconsin: hunting, fishing and other licenses for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
DNR Returning Service Members Voucher: one-time free hunting or fishing license	Wisconsin resident veteran returning from service. Eligibility must first be confirmed by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA); the voucher code must then be redeemed within 365 days of discharge at a DNR Service Center or through the DNR Call Center.	One free small game, archery, gun deer or annual fishing license	dnr.wisconsin.gov
Purple Heart recipient reduced-fee Conservation Patron license and related privileges	Purple Heart medal recipients, resident or nonresident, with proof such as a DD-214 shown at a DNR Service Center	Conservation Patron license costs $10 for residents and $161 for nonresidents. Nonresidents get resident rates on hunting, fishing and trapping approvals. Recipients also get a one-time Class A bear license transfer and can buy one spring turkey harvest authorization without the drawing. They are also eligible to apply for an elk hunting permit.	dnr.wisconsin.gov
DNR disabled veteran and former POW license and admission discounts (DNR Form 2500-123)	Wisconsin resident disabled veterans and former POWs. Recreation Card and discounted spring turkey authorization: at least 50% service-connected rating or individual unemployability. $3 fishing license: at least 70% rating, individual unemployability, or non-service-connected VA pension. Free Honor Admission Pass: at least 70% rating or former POW. Apply through a County Veterans Service Officer.	Recreation Card $7/year (fishing, small game, vehicle park admission, state trail passes); fishing license $3/year; spring turkey harvest authorization $10 plus license and stamp; Honor Admission Pass free (2-year or lifetime).	dnr.wisconsin.gov

Education

Wisconsin: education for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Wisconsin GI Bill: full tuition and segregated-fee remission at any UW System or Wisconsin Technical College System school	A veteran who is a current Wisconsin resident, discharged under honorable conditions, and either entered service as a Wisconsin resident or lived in Wisconsin for 3 consecutive years before the semester. The veteran must also meet one service test, for example 90 days of active duty in a war period or 2 consecutive years of peacetime service. The spouse or child (age 17 to 25) of a veteran rated at least 30% service-connected disabled, or of a veteran who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability, also qualifies.	100% of tuition and segregated fees for up to 8 semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater	dva.wi.gov

Employment

Wisconsin: employment for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment Program for state jobs	Veterans with at least a 30% service-connected disability rating (VA or a U.S. Armed Forces permanent disability list), documented within the past 12 months, who do not hold a permanent state position	Can be appointed to state positions without the competitive exam process. Apply through Wisc.Jobs.	dva.wi.gov

State veterans homes

Wisconsin: state veterans homes for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Wisconsin Veterans Homes at Chippewa Falls, King and Union Grove	Veterans, their spouses and Gold Star Parents (admission criteria per wisvetshomes.com)	24-hour skilled nursing care at three state-run homes	dva.wi.gov

Other benefits

Wisconsin: other benefits for veterans
Benefit	Who qualifies	Amount	Source
Free or discounted state park, forest and trail admission (Disabled Veteran or Former POW Park Admission Card)	Wisconsin resident veterans rated 70% or more service-connected disabled, and former POWs, get free access. Wisconsin resident veterans rated 50% or more, or rated individually unemployable, get the discounted pass. The application is certified by a CVSO.	Free park admission and trail pass at 70% or more and for former POWs. Annual pass is $7 per year at 50% or more or for individual unemployability.	dva.wi.gov

Common questions

Does Wisconsin have a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?

Yes: Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit (refundable income tax credit, sec. 71.07(6e), Wis. Stats.). Who qualifies: Veteran certified by WDVA who served on active duty under honorable conditions, entered service as a Wisconsin resident or lived in Wisconsin for any 5 consecutive years after entering active duty, is a current Wisconsin resident, and has a 100% service-connected disability rating (38 USC 1114 or 1134) or a 100% rating based on individual unemployability. Also covers an unremarried surviving spouse of: a veteran with that rating who was a Wisconsin resident at death; a service member who died on active duty (or a Guard or Reserve member who died in the line of duty during training) while a Wisconsin resident; or a veteran who was a Wisconsin resident at death and whose spouse receives DIC. No age or income limit. Full-year residents claim it on Form 1 and part-year residents on Form 1NPR. Nonresidents are not eligible. A claimant who takes this credit cannot claim the homestead credit on the same property taxes.. Amount: 100% of the property taxes paid during the year on the principal dwelling in Wisconsin and up to 1 acre of land. Special assessments, delinquent interest, service charges and any portion deductible as a business expense are excluded. For joint ownership, only the claimant's ownership percentage counts; for farm or business property only the personal-residence share qualifies. Refundable. (Wisconsin DOR Publication 128 (1/26), Wisconsin Tax Information for Military Personnel and Veterans, section 4.G; WDVA Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit page (https://dva.wi.gov/services/housing-and-financial-services/property-tax-credit/)).

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

Get WDVA eligibility certification through your County or Tribal Veterans Service Officer (CVSO/TVSO), then claim the credit on your Wisconsin income tax return (Form 1, line 34, for full-year residents or Form 1NPR, line 64, for part-year residents). (Wisconsin DOR Publication 128 (1/26), Wisconsin Tax Information for Military Personnel and Veterans, section 4.G; WDVA Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit page (https://dva.wi.gov/services/housing-and-financial-services/property-tax-credit/)).

Does Wisconsin tax military retirement pay?

Fully exempt. All retirement payments from the U.S. military retirement system (paid by DFAS), including Survivor Benefit Plan payments, are exempt from Wisconsin income tax under sec. 71.05(1)(am) and (an), Wis. Stats. Retirement pay for service with the Coast Guard, the NOAA commissioned corps and the Public Health Service commissioned corps is also exempt. Claim it as a subtraction on Schedule SB, line 12 (Form 1) or Schedule M, line 46 (Form 1NPR). Amount or limit: No dollar cap. The subtraction is limited to the amount of such retirement pay included in federal AGI (tax year 2025 forms; DOR Pub 128 dated 1/26). (revenue.wi.gov).

What other benefits do veterans get in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin GI Bill: full tuition and segregated-fee remission at any UW System or Wisconsin Technical College System school (dva.wi.gov); DNR Returning Service Members Voucher: one-time free hunting or fishing license (dnr.wisconsin.gov); Purple Heart recipient reduced-fee Conservation Patron license and related privileges (dnr.wisconsin.gov); DNR disabled veteran and former POW license and admission discounts (DNR Form 2500-123) (dnr.wisconsin.gov); Free or discounted state park, forest and trail admission (Disabled Veteran or Former POW Park Admission Card) (dva.wi.gov); Disabled Veteran parking license plates (wisconsindot.gov); Wisconsin Veterans Homes at Chippewa Falls, King and Union Grove (dva.wi.gov); Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment Program for state jobs (dva.wi.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.

Wisconsin senior property tax relief → Wisconsin 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 →