Arkansas Disabled Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled veteran living in Arkansas, or thinking about moving here, this page puts every state-level benefit tied to your VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) disability rating in one place: the full property tax exemption, state income tax breaks, vehicle plates, parks and hunting/fishing, education for you and your family, the state veterans homes, hiring preference, and more. Every figure and form name below comes from an official Arkansas source, and I link that source so you can check it yourself. Where the state's own pages leave a number unsettled, I tell you to confirm it rather than guess.

Plain-language promise: I keep the how-to steps here so you can act. The only thing I route out is filing or increasing a VA claim, because that is free claims work best handled by an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), never a paid company.

New for the 2026 assessment year — you can now hold your exempt homestead in a trust or LLC. A 2025 law now lets you keep the disabled-veteran property tax exemption even when your home is held through a revocable trust you formed, an irrevocable trust in which you are a beneficiary, or a limited liability company (LLC) whose only members are you (or you and your spouse). Before this change the home generally had to be titled directly in the veteran's name. A companion 2025 law also provides that your VA Summary of Benefits letter generally needs to be submitted only one time to establish eligibility (you must still notify the county if your status changes). These are recent changes and county offices are still adapting to them, so confirm the exact effective date and paperwork with your county collector/assessor before you rely on them.

Sources the 2025 law · county guidance

Property tax exemption

What it is: Arkansas gives a qualifying disabled veteran a full (100%) exemption from all state property taxes on the homestead and personal property the veteran owns. There is no dollar cap — the entire property tax bill on the qualifying homestead and personal property is wiped out. This is a statewide, mandatory exemption set by state law, not a local option, so it works the same in every county. You apply through your county collector (and assessor).

Every route to the full exemption, spelled out. You qualify if the VA has awarded you any one of the following (you need only one):

• Route 1 — Loss or loss of use of a limb. The VA has awarded you special monthly compensation (SMC) for the loss, or loss of use, of one or more limbs.
• Route 2 — Total blindness. The VA has awarded you special monthly compensation for total blindness in one or both eyes.
• Route 3 — 100% total and permanent (P&T). The VA rates you service-connected 100% total and permanent (P&T). A straightforward 100%-schedular rating that the VA has marked permanent and total clearly qualifies. If you are paid at the 100% rate through Individual Unemployability (IU/TDIU), the law keys on the words "100% total and permanent," so bring your VA letter and ask your county collector to confirm your specific rating qualifies rather than assuming it.

What is exempt, and what is not.

• Exempt: your homestead (the home you occupy) and the personal property you own.
• Generally not exempt: rental/investment property, land-only or timber parcels you do not live on, and certain non-tax charges such as city improvement or sanitation/special-district assessments and liens. Confirm the edges with your county collector, since the exemption is tied to the occupied homestead.
• Ownership through a trust or LLC is now allowed for the 2026 assessment year forward (see the note at the top): a revocable trust you formed, an irrevocable trust in which you are a beneficiary, or an LLC whose only members are you (or you and your spouse). Confirm with your county.

Residency: only a disabled veteran who is a citizen and resident of Arkansas (and the veteran's surviving spouse and minor dependent children, below) is eligible.

Surviving spouse and minor dependent children. The exemption continues, on the homestead and personal property they own, for:

• the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) and minor dependent children of a qualifying disabled veteran, upon the veteran's death; the spouse's exemption is reinstated if a later marriage ends; and
• the surviving spouse and minor dependent children of a service member who was killed or died within the scope of military duties, is missing in action, or of a veteran who died from service-connected causes (as certified by the VA).

Below-100% / partial ratings: the full exemption keys on the SMC categories above or a 100% P&T rating. Arkansas does not appear to offer a separate graduated state property-tax break for lower VA ratings — if you are rated below these thresholds, ask your county assessor about the general homestead property-tax credit that all Arkansas homeowners can claim (it is not veteran-specific).

1. Get your VA Summary of Benefits letter (the VA mails it each January; you can also download it from VA.gov — Download your VA benefit letters). If that letter does not show your total-and-permanent effective date, also grab your VA Rating Decision page that shows it.
2. Contact your county collector's office (personal property) and county assessor (real estate). Tell them you are claiming the disabled-veteran exemption.
3. Submit your VA letter. Under the 2025 change this generally is a one-time submission, but confirm your county's practice.
4. If your homestead is (or will be) held in a trust or LLC, tell the county and ask what they need to apply the new rule for the 2026 assessment year.
5. Confirm the exemption posted by checking your next tax statement, and notify the county if your qualifying status ever changes.

Sources Washington County Collector · Pulaski County Treasurer · the 2025 trust/LLC law

State income tax

What it is: Arkansas does not add state tax on top of your already federally tax-free VA disability compensation, and it fully exempts military retirement pay.

• VA disability compensation is federally tax-free, and Arkansas follows that — it is not part of your taxable income on your Arkansas return. Arkansas starts from your federal income figures, and VA disability compensation is excluded there.
• Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Arkansas income tax, for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. This covers all branches' retired pay with no age limit and no income cap. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and related RCSBP/RSFPP annuities are treated the same (not taxed by Arkansas). Confirm the current-year mechanics in the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) individual income tax instructions.
• Military disability retirement pay received as a pension or annuity for personal injury or sickness from active service is not includible in taxable income; VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) paid to survivors is a federally tax-free benefit. Confirm your specific situation with a preparer familiar with military filings or with DFA.
• No separate veteran-specific Arkansas income-tax credit (beyond the exclusions above) was identified. Re-check the current-year forms each filing season in case new legislation adds one.

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation never appears as income on your Arkansas return (it should not appear on your federal return either).
2. If you receive military retirement pay or SBP, make sure it is excluded on the current Arkansas return; check the current-year DFA instructions for the exact line.
3. If a prior return taxed VA compensation or military retirement pay, fix it with a preparer or by contacting DFA — that is a filing mechanic, not claims work.

Sources State Finance Dept (DFA)

Vehicles, plates & tolls

What it is: the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) issues a free Disabled Veteran license plate. Arkansas has essentially no state toll roads, so there is no toll-discount program to enroll in.

• Disabled Veteran plate (free): the plate itself is issued at no charge. The DFA lists no annual renewal fee for the plate; if you want an additional plate it is $4.00, and a plate may be reissued to a surviving spouse for $4.00.
• Who qualifies: the plate is issued to disabled veterans certified by the VA under the older state laws that created it. DFA states the requirement as a veteran who is 100% disabled (non-service-connected); other state and county guidance indicates service-connected veterans (commonly at a 30% or higher rating) also qualify. Because the categories can be read narrowly, confirm your exact eligibility with DFA or any Revenue Office before you rely on a specific percentage.
• Documentation: a letter from the VA verifying your eligibility. A surviving spouse who was not a joint owner also brings the marriage license and the veteran's death certificate.
• Vehicle sales/excise tax: no Arkansas sales- or excise-tax exemption specific to disabled-veteran vehicle purchases was confirmed at an official source. If you received the VA automobile/adaptive-equipment grant, that is a separate federal benefit — see VA Form 21-4502.

1. Get your VA eligibility letter (download from VA.gov — VA benefit letters or use the January Summary of Benefits letter).
2. Take it to any Arkansas Revenue Office / Office of Motor Vehicle (specialty plates are issued through the Specialty License Plate Office). Ask for the free Disabled Veteran plate and confirm your eligibility category at the counter.
3. If you want a second plate ($4.00), or you are a surviving spouse seeking a reissue ($4.00), bring the extra documents noted above.

Sources State Finance Dept (DFA)

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: Arkansas State Parks charge no day-use/entry fee to anyone, and add a camping discount for 100% disabled veterans; the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) sells deeply discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses to disabled veterans.

• State park entry: day-use entry to Arkansas State Parks is free to everyone (this is a general public benefit, not veteran-specific).
• Camping discount (100% P&T): U.S. citizens with a 100% total and permanent disability get a 50% discount on standard campsite fees at all Arkansas State Parks, year-round. It does not apply to cabins, yurts, or other rental facilities. Accepted proof: a VA award letter dated within the last two years, or an Arkansas license plate beginning with "DV" or "DAV," or the federal America the Beautiful Access Pass.
• Lifetime licenses for 100% P&T disabled veterans (AGFC): a Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Fishing License (VLF) for $1.50, a Lifetime Hunting License (VLH) for $1.50, or the Lifetime Combination (VLC2) for $3.00. Requires VA certification of 100% total and permanent disability and proof of one year of Arkansas residency.
• Lifetime license for partially disabled veterans (AGFC): the Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Combination License and Permit (VLL2) for $52.50 is available to a veteran with a service-connected rating of 70% or higher, or 50% or higher who is also a Purple Heart recipient. It bundles hunting, fishing, trout, and duck-stamp privileges. One year of Arkansas residency required.

1. For the camping discount, bring a recent VA award letter (within two years) or show your DV/DAV plate when you reserve or check in.
2. For an AGFC lifetime license, get your VA disability certification and proof of one year Arkansas residency, then apply by mail or at the AGFC Little Rock office. Call 833-345-0325 or 501-207-0326 (Mon-Fri, 8-5) for the current application.

Sources Arkansas State Parks · Game & Fish Commission

Education for you & your family

What it is: the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) runs the Military Dependents Scholarship (MDS), which waives college costs for the spouse and children of a qualifying veteran. Arkansas' main education benefit for the family flows through this program; for your own schooling, the federal GI Bill and VA Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment are the primary tools.

• Military Dependents Scholarship (MDS): waives tuition, mandatory fees, and (when housed on campus) room and board at any public or private Arkansas college, university, or technical school. It is for the spouse or dependent child of an Arkansas service member/veteran who is 100% total and permanent service-connected disabled (during or as a result of active service), or who was killed in action, died on ordnance delivery, is a prisoner of war, or is missing in action.
• Who is eligible: the biological, adopted, or step-child, or the spouse (ineligible if they remarry), who is an Arkansas resident and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Coverage is limited to 8 semesters or completion of the degree, whichever comes first.
• Chapter 35 DEA step: the applicant must first apply for the federal Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35 / DEA) benefit with the VA and give ADHE proof of acceptance or non-eligibility; MDS covers costs remaining after DEA is applied.

1. Confirm the dependent/spouse is an Arkansas resident and gather the veteran's DD Form 214 (or Report of Casualty) and the VA letter documenting 100% P&T service-connected disability (or the KIA/POW/MIA status).
2. Apply for federal Chapter 35 DEA with the VA and keep the acceptance/denial letter.
3. Apply for MDS through ADHE's online scholarship system at sams.adhe.edu; questions go to ADHE at 501-371-2000 or [email protected].
4. Work with your school's financial aid office so the waiver applies against the actual bill.

Sources Division of Higher Education (ADHE) · the program rules

State Veterans Homes & long-term care

What it is: the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) operates two skilled-nursing State Veterans Homes with 24-hour nursing care and an on-site medical director.

• Locations: Fayetteville — 1179 North College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701, (479) 444-7001, [email protected]; and North Little Rock — 2401 John Ashley Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114, (501) 683-1406, [email protected].
• Who qualifies: an honorable discharge, status as a veteran (or a veteran's spouse or a Gold Star parent), and a medical need for nursing-home care.
• Services: round-the-clock skilled nursing (RN/LPN/CNA), physical/occupational/speech therapy, hospice, transportation, and complimentary cable and laundry.
• Cost: the ADVA page does not publish a rate; the cost/payment structure (VA per-diem, private pay, Medicaid) is set case-by-case. Ask the home's admissions office how it applies to your VA rating. Note that at the federal level the VA generally pays the full cost of nursing-home care in a State Veterans Home for veterans rated 70% or higher for a service-connected condition — confirm your situation with the home and the VA.

1. Pick the nearer home and call its number above for the Application for Admission and Medical Release of Information packet.
2. Have your DD Form 214 and VA rating letter ready; a registered-nurse interview and Admissions Committee review follow.
3. Ask the admissions office to spell out your expected out-of-pocket cost given your VA rating before you commit.

Sources Dept. of Veterans Affairs (ADVA)

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Arkansas' Veterans Preference Law requires state agencies and state-supported colleges to give hiring, promotion, and retention preference to qualified veterans, disabled veterans, and certain spouses/surviving spouses.

• Points on scored exams: a qualifying veteran who passes gets 5 points added to the final earned rating; a veteran with an established service-connected disability (or a veteran over 55 who is disabled and entitled to a pension/compensation), or the spouse of a service-connected disabled veteran, gets 10 points instead. Ten-point-preference names go to the head of the eligible register.
• When no exam is scored: the hiring authority must document how veterans' preference was applied in choosing who to interview and who to hire; you may ask to see that.
• Private-sector option: Arkansas law allows — but does not require — private employers and local governments to adopt a voluntary veterans'-preference hiring policy.

1. When you apply for a state job, claim veteran (or disabled-veteran) status and attach your DD Form 214 and, for the 10-point preference, your VA service-connected disability letter.
2. Apply through the state jobs portal at ARCareers — Arkansas.gov.
3. If a position is filled without a scored exam, ask the hiring authority to show how your preference was applied.

Sources Office of Personnel Management

Other: burial, veteran business

What it is: state veterans cemeteries at no cost to the veteran, plus veteran-business resources.

• State Veterans Cemeteries: ADVA operates two — North Little Rock and Birdeye — offering a gravesite, opening/closing of the grave, a government-supplied headstone or niche cover, and perpetual care at no cost to eligible veterans (discharged under other-than-dishonorable conditions). Spouses and eligible dependents may also be interred (a spouse/dependent interment fee, reported around $807, may apply — confirm the current amount).
• Veteran-owned business: a service-disabled veteran-owned business may qualify for state contracting preferences and certification. The exact set-aside percentage and any fee waivers were not confirmed at a primary state source in this pass — start with ADVA's veteran services and the Arkansas Office of State Procurement to confirm current terms.

1. For burial, contact the North Little Rock cemetery at (501) 683-2259 (or ADVA) to pre-register eligibility and confirm any spouse/dependent fee.
2. For a veteran-owned business, ask ADVA and the Office of State Procurement which certification and preference programs you qualify for, and get the current requirements in writing.

Sources Dept. of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) · VA cemetery locator · ADVA veteran services

Who to call

The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) is your single front door for the programs above and for a free accredited VSO to help with a VA claim, rating, or benefit application.

• Website: veterans.arkansas.gov
• Headquarters: Winthrop Rockefeller Building, 501 Woodlane Street, Suite 401N, Little Rock, AR 72201; main line (501) 683-2382; email [email protected]. ADVA — Contact Us
• County Veteran Service Officers (free, accredited claims help) — find yours on ADVA's map: ADVA — Veteran Services Map
• Property tax questions: your county collector and assessor (they administer the exemption). Plate questions: any Arkansas Revenue Office or the DFA.

1. Anything tied to your actual VA rating — filing a new claim, appealing, or arguing for a higher percentage — goes to a free accredited VSO. Find one through ADVA or at VA.gov. Never pay a private company for basic claims help.
2. State-program questions (property tax, plates, parks, education, homes, hiring) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at veterans.arkansas.gov.

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