Kansas Disabled Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled veteran living in Kansas, 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 property-tax relief program, state income-tax breaks, the new sales-tax exemption, vehicle plates, parks and hunting/fishing, education for you and your kids, the state veterans' homes, hiring preference, and more. Every dollar figure, deadline, and form name below comes from an official Kansas source, and I link that source so you can check it yourself. Where the state's own pages leave a number unsettled or indexed year to year, 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) or the state's own Veteran Service Representatives (VSRs), never a paid company.

New for 2026 — a Kansas sales-tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, in effect July 1, 2026. An honorably discharged Kansas veteran whom the VA certifies as 100% Permanent and Total (P&T), or as Totally Disabled / Individual Unemployability (TDIU), can buy up to $24,000 of goods and services per calendar year free of Kansas sales tax. It covers everyday purchases (food, clothing, toiletries, appliances, over-the-counter medications, restaurant meals excluding alcohol, home-improvement materials, and vehicle repair/maintenance) and excludes motor vehicles themselves, alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and anything bought to produce income. You must carry a state-issued wallet-size exemption certificate card (valid three years, non-transferable) and present it at checkout.

Sources State Dept. of Revenue

Property tax relief

What it is — and a myth to clear up first: Kansas does not offer a full or blanket property-tax exemption tied to your disability rating. You may have read on third-party sites that a 100% P&T veteran gets a "complete exemption" in Kansas — the state's own program describes no such thing. What Kansas actually gives disabled veterans is a refund that freezes your tax bill, called the Property Tax Relief Claim for Seniors and Disabled Veterans, filed on Form K-40SVR.

How the refund actually works: once you qualify, the state refunds the difference between your home's property tax in a base year and the current year's tax — in effect freezing your homestead tax bill at the level in place when you first qualified. The base year is the year before you first claim; if that year would fall before 2021, the law treats 2021 as the base year. So this is a freeze/refund, not a wipe-out of the bill.

Every route to qualify for the K-40SVR refund, spelled out. You must meet the residency and home rules plus qualify under at least one of the status routes:

• Disability route (the veteran path): you must have a VA service-connected disability evaluation of 50% or greater. This is the single disability threshold the law keys on — there is no separate higher-benefit tier at 70% or 100%; a 50% rating and a 100% rating qualify the same way. Because the benefit is a freeze, a higher rating does not enlarge it.
• Age route (non-disability, same form): a Kansas homeowner who is 65 or older for the whole year can use the same program even without a disability rating. Listed here only so you know it is the same claim.
• Surviving-spouse route: the surviving spouse of someone who was receiving K-40SVR as a disabled veteran (or as a senior) may keep claiming the refund until they remarry.

The residency and home conditions everyone must also meet:

• Kansas resident for the entire year and you owned and occupied the home in Kansas for that whole year.
• Home value cap: the home's appraised value in the base year cannot exceed $350,000.
• Income cap: total household income cannot exceed $58,041 — that is the figure the state published for tax year 2025, and it is adjusted year to year, so confirm the current-year cap on the K-40SVR FAQ before relying on it. Social Security benefits are not counted in household income for this program.

1. Gather your VA rating letter showing a 50% or higher service-connected evaluation, and your prior-year Kansas property tax receipts (you will need the base-year figure).
2. Get the current-year form: Form K-40SVR (2025 PDF), and check the state's Homestead forms page for the latest year's version.
3. Confirm the current income cap and home-value rule on the K-40SVR FAQ.
4. File the claim — electronically through Kansas WebFile or by mail to the Homestead Claim address in Topeka on the form. Allow roughly 20 to 24 weeks for the refund to process.
5. If a county appraiser or a third party tells you a 100% rating means "no property tax in Kansas," check it against the state FAQ — the program is a refund/freeze, not a full exemption.

Sources Property Tax Relief FAQ · Homestead forms

State income tax

What it is: Kansas does not add state tax on top of your already federally tax-free VA disability compensation, fully exempts military retirement pay, and gives 100%-rated disabled veterans an extra personal exemption.

• VA disability compensation is federally tax-free, and Kansas follows the federal figure. Kansas income tax starts from your federal adjusted gross income (AGI), and VA disability compensation is not part of federal AGI, so it is not taxed by Kansas either. Confirm the treatment on your own return with a tax professional.
• Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Kansas income tax. Retirement benefits earned for service in the U.S. armed forces are a subtraction on Schedule S of the Kansas Form K-40 — no age or income limit.
• Additional $2,250 personal exemption for 100%-rated disabled veterans. Kansas law allows an additional personal exemption of $2,250 for any individual honorably discharged from active service whom the VA certifies as receiving disability compensation at the 100% rate, where the disability is permanent and was sustained through military action or accident, or resulted from disease contracted while in active service. This is in addition to the standard personal exemption every filer gets, and it has applied since tax year 2023 (still in effect for 2026 filings).

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation never appears as income on your Kansas return (it should not appear on your federal return either, and Kansas starts from your federal figures).
2. If you receive military retirement pay, subtract it on Schedule S of your K-40; check the current-year armed-forces instructions for the exact line.
3. If the VA certifies you at the 100% rate with a permanent disability, claim the additional $2,250 exemption on your K-40. Keep your VA certification with your records.
4. If a past return taxed your VA compensation or military retirement by mistake, fix it with a tax preparer familiar with military filings — that is a filing mechanic, not claims work.

Sources Armed Forces tax instructions · disabled-veteran exemption notice

Vehicles, plates & sales tax

What it is: the Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles issues a free Disabled Veteran license plate and, starting July 1, 2026, runs the sales-tax exemption described in the note at the top of this page.

• Disabled Veteran license plate — no registration fee. A Kansas-resident veteran qualifies if the VA compensates you for a service-connected disability of at least 50%, or for the loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or one or both hands, or for permanent visual impairment of both eyes. The first plate is issued free of the registration fee (personal property tax on the vehicle still applies); any additional plate carries the standard fees. Apply on Form TR-103, Application for Disabled Veterans License Plate (PDF), which must be signed by the veteran and certified by the VA regional director (plus a medical professional's signature if you want the wheelchair-emblem version), and submitted to your county treasurer's motor-vehicle office with proof of insurance.
• Sales-tax exemption (new, effective July 1, 2026). See the note at the top: 100% P&T or TDIU veterans get up to $24,000/year of Kansas purchases sales-tax-free with a state exemption card. This is a general purchases benefit, not just vehicles — and note it excludes the purchase of a motor vehicle itself, though vehicle repair and maintenance qualify.

1. For the plate, download Form TR-103, complete your portion, and have the VA regional director certify your qualifying disability on the form.
2. Take the certified TR-103 and proof of insurance to your county treasurer's motor-vehicle office, and confirm at the counter that the registration fee is waived before you pay.
3. For the sales-tax exemption, apply to the state for the exemption certificate card, then carry the card and present it at checkout on qualifying purchases.

Sources Disabled Veteran Plate program · sales-tax exemption

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: a free hunting and fishing license for disabled veterans through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Note that the free license does not cover the separate state-park vehicle permit.

• Free hunting & fishing license (30% rating). A Kansas resident who is honorably discharged (or discharged under honorable conditions) and has a VA service-connected disability of at least 30% qualifies for a free hunting and fishing license. The law describes this as a permanent license, but KDWP's current application instructions have qualifying veterans reapply, so confirm with KDWP whether your license is issued as permanent or renewed each year. You provide current VA entitlement papers showing at least a 30% rating; if you are getting a hunting license and were born on or after July 1, 1957, you also need your Hunter Education card. Apply on the Kansas Disabled Veterans Hunting & Fishing License Application (PDF).
• State-park vehicle permit is a separate fee. The free hunting/fishing license does not get you into state parks — the annual vehicle park permit is charged separately, and a Disabled Veteran plate does not automatically make it free. Confirm the current park-permit fee schedule directly with KDWP.
• Federal bonus (not a Kansas benefit): if the VA rates you 100% (or otherwise permanently disabled), you separately qualify for the free lifetime America the Beautiful — National Park Service Access Pass, good at federal recreation sites nationwide. That is a federal pass, not a Kansas state-parks pass — apply through the National Park Service, not KDWP.

1. Get your VA documentation showing a 30% or higher service-connected rating.
2. Apply online at gooutdoorsKS (or the Go Outdoors Kansas app), or mail the Disabled Veterans license application with your documentation; allow about two weeks to process.
3. If you also want state-park access, ask KDWP about the current annual vehicle park permit price — it is a separate purchase from the license.

Sources Special Licenses & Permits · Licenses, Permits & Fees

Education for you & your family

What it is: Kansas waives tuition and fees at its public colleges for the family of a severely disabled or fallen service member through the Kansas Hero's Scholarship, administered by the Kansas Board of Regents, plus a resident-tuition path for military-connected dependents.

• Kansas Hero's Scholarship: waives tuition and required fees at eligible Kansas public postsecondary institutions (state universities, community colleges, technical colleges, and Washburn) for the spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, or dependent child of a service member who meets one of these routes: (i) died in the line of duty during military service (confirm the qualifying line-of-duty dates on the current instructions); (ii) has a VA service-connected disability rating of 80% or greater; (iii) sustained a service-connected injury or disability that rendered them incapable of continuing military service; or (iv) is a former prisoner of war. The waiver covers up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study (a summer term counts as one-third of a semester). Funding is appropriated annually and awarded on a first-come basis, so it is not an unconditional entitlement. Current-year details and application: Kansas Hero's Scholarship 2026-2027 (PDF).
• Resident-tuition rate for military-connected dependents: spouses and dependent children of Kansas veterans and service members can generally be charged the in-state resident tuition rate regardless of formal residency. Confirm your school's current policy with the Kansas Board of Regents.

1. Confirm which route fits your family (80%+ rating, medically unable to continue service, line-of-duty death, or POW) on the current Hero's Scholarship instructions.
2. Get a VA letter stating the combined service-connected rating (80%+), the dates of service, and the effective date of the latest determination.
3. Apply through the Kansas Board of Regents student-financial-aid system, and apply early — awards are first-come while funds last.
4. Coordinate with your school's financial-aid office so the waiver applies against actual tuition and fees owed.

Sources Board of Regents — Military & Veteran Resources

State Veterans' Homes & long-term care

What it is: Kansas runs two state veterans' long-term-care homes through the Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) — the Kansas Veterans' Home in Winfield and the Kansas Soldiers' Home at Fort Dodge.

• Kansas Veterans' Home — Winfield: 1220 World War II Memorial Drive, Winfield, KS 67156. Main line reported as (620) 705-6201.
• Kansas Soldiers' Home — Fort Dodge: 714 Sheridan – Unit 128, Fort Dodge, KS 67843.
• Who can be admitted: admission generally requires completed active federal military service under other-than-dishonorable conditions, plus Kansas residency and a demonstrated need for the level of care offered (the homes provide domiciliary and skilled-nursing care). Exact eligibility, level-of-care, and cost/means-testing details vary and should be confirmed directly with the home's admissions office, since these figures were not fully published in a form I could verify here.

1. Pick the closer home (Winfield or Fort Dodge) and review the state's Eligibility & Admissions page.
2. Call that home's admissions office and ask for the application packet, the physician's-statement requirement, and your specific monthly cost given your VA disability rating — a higher service-connected rating can mean the VA covers more of the care cost, so confirm your number in writing.
3. Have your discharge document (DD Form 214) and VA rating letter ready to submit.

Sources State Veterans' Homes · Winfield home · Fort Dodge home · Eligibility & Admissions

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Kansas law gives veterans, and disabled veterans in particular, a hiring preference across state, county, and city government jobs.

• Veterans preference: Kansas directs that eligible veterans be given preference for initial employment and first promotion in state, county, and city government when they are competent to perform the duties. The law expressly covers disabled veterans — defined as those with a service-connected disability certified by the Kansas Office of Veterans Services — as well as spouses of a 100%-rated disabled veteran, surviving spouses of those who died in service, and spouses of prisoners of war. Retired officers at pay grade O-4 and above are excluded unless they retired due to combat wounds or are a disabled veteran with at least a 10% service-connected rating.
• Notice/appeal right: a veteran applicant who is not selected must be notified within 30 days by certified mail or personal service.
• How the preference is scored: the exact mechanics (for example, any point values added to an exam or interview score, and whether disabled veterans receive a higher tier than other veterans) are administered by the Kansas Department of Administration — confirm the current scoring with the Department of Administration rather than relying on a fixed number here.

1. When you apply for a Kansas state, county, or city government job, claim veteran status and, if applicable, disabled-veteran status, with your DD Form 214 and VA rating letter ready.
2. Ask the hiring agency or the Department of Administration exactly how the preference is applied to your application and whether your disability rating changes it.
3. If you are passed over, watch for the required 30-day written notice and ask about any administrative appeal.

Sources the statute · Dept. of Administration — Veterans Preference

Other: burial & veteran business

What it is: Kansas operates state veterans' cemeteries at no burial cost, and offers some support for veteran-owned businesses.

• State Veterans' Cemeteries: KOVS runs four — at Winfield, Fort Dodge, WaKeeney, and Fort Riley/Manhattan. There is generally no fee to bury an eligible veteran or eligible family member, and eligible family members (spouse, surviving spouse, and certain dependent children) can be interred even if the veteran is not buried there. Pre-registration is free and recommended so eligibility is confirmed in advance.
• Veteran-owned business: Kansas offers procurement and small-business support that can favor veteran-owned firms. The specific set-aside percentages and eligibility for a disabled-veteran-owned business change over time and were not verifiable against a primary state procurement page here, so ask the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Department of Administration's procurement office for the current program terms before relying on any figure.
• Sales-tax exemption (cross-reference): the $24,000/year sales-tax exemption for 100% P&T / TDIU veterans (effective July 1, 2026) is a broad everyday-purchases benefit — see the Vehicles, plates & sales tax section.

1. For burial, pre-register with KOVS so your eligibility is confirmed ahead of need.
2. If you own or want to start a business, contact the Kansas Department of Commerce about current veteran-owned-business procurement programs and confirm the eligibility terms in writing.

Sources Kansas Veterans' Cemeteries · sales-tax exemption

Who to call

The Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) is your single front door for the state programs above and for free Veteran Service Representatives (VSRs) who help with VA claims, ratings, and applications.

• Website: kovs.ks.gov
• Central office: Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 504-N, Topeka, KS 66612 (confirm current suite/phone on the site before visiting).
• Main line: (785) 296-3976 · Toll-free: (800) 513-7731
• Free VSR help and the nearest field office: KOVS VSR & VSO Office Locations; general contacts: Contact Us — KOVS
• Property-tax questions: your county appraiser or county treasurer and the K-40SVR FAQ — Kansas Dept. of Revenue

1. Anything tied to your actual VA rating — filing a new claim, appealing, or seeking a higher percentage — goes to a free accredited VSO or a KOVS VSR. Call KOVS at (800) 513-7731 or find an accredited representative at VA.gov. Never pay a private company for basic claims help.
2. State-program questions (property-tax refund, plates, sales-tax card, parks, education, homes, hiring, burial) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at kovs.ks.gov.

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