Virginia Disabled Veteran Benefits

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If you are a disabled veteran living in Virginia, 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 tax and plate perks, parks and hunting/fishing, education for your family, state care centers, hiring preference, and burial. Every figure, deadline, and form name below comes from an official Virginia (.gov) or federal 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. In Virginia the state itself staffs free accredited VSOs through the Department of Veterans Services (DVS).

Military retirement pay — the Military Benefits Subtraction. Virginia lets qualifying veterans (and surviving spouses receiving Survivor Benefit Plan payments) subtract military retirement income from state taxable income. Per Virginia Tax's own guidance, the subtraction is capped at up to $40,000 of eligible military benefits for tax year 2025 and later returns, with no age requirement. Bills to remove the dollar cap entirely (HB2700 in the 2025 session, HB588 in the 2026 session) were introduced but did not pass — both died in the House Finance Committee — so the $40,000 cap remains the current rule as of this writing. Always confirm the current-year amount when you file.

Sources Virginia Tax military-benefits FAQ · Virginia Tax subtractions guidance

New for 2026 — the vehicle registration-fee waiver no longer requires DV plates. A 2026 law (House Bill 94, Acts of Assembly Chapter 39, signed by the Governor March 31, 2026) extends the existing annual registration-fee exemption for one vehicle owned by a qualifying disabled veteran (or unremarried surviving spouse) to a vehicle carrying the Department's standard passenger license plate, not just Disabled Veteran (DV) plates. This is now reflected in the current text of the statute. Details are in the Vehicles section below.

Sources Code of Virginia §46.2-739 (current text)

Property tax exemption

What it is: Virginia gives a full (100%) exemption from real property tax on the principal residence of the most seriously disabled veterans. Unlike New York, this is statewide and mandatory — it is written into the Virginia Constitution and state law, so every city and county must honor it. There is no income limit and no asset limit for this exemption. You apply locally, with your city or county Commissioner of the Revenue (or equivalent local tax office), not with the state.

The ways to qualify for the full exemption:

• 100% permanent and total (P&T) rating. The core route: the VA has rated you 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total, and you occupy the home as your principal residence. This is the exact condition the law keys on.
• Individual Unemployability (IU / TDIU) paid at the 100% rate. If the VA rates your service connection below 100% but pays you at the 100% rate because of individual unemployability and treats it as permanent and total, Virginia has treated you as qualifying. Note the basis: this rests on a 2011 Virginia Attorney General opinion reading the law, not on words in the law itself, so if IU is your route, confirm with your local Commissioner of the Revenue and bring your VA benefit-summary letter showing the 100% pay rate.
• Surviving spouse. The surviving spouse keeps the exemption if the veteran's death occurred on or after January 1, 2011 and the spouse does not remarry. The spouse may even move to a different principal residence and carry the exemption to the new home.

What the exemption covers:

• The dwelling and up to one acre of land it sits on (a locality that already exempts more than one acre for others applies that larger acreage here too), plus outbuildings used to house vehicles or household goods for non-business purposes.
• Manufactured homes qualify as the residence even if you do not own the land under them — but then only the home, not the land, is exempt.
• Co-owned property and trusts: if you co-own with someone who does not independently qualify, the exemption is prorated to your share; property held in certain revocable or irrevocable trusts can still qualify if you (alone or with your spouse) hold the power of revocation or a life estate — give the trust documents to the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Timing: there is no statewide filing deadline — you can even apply before you close on a home using a signed purchase agreement — and the Commissioner of the Revenue must process a complete application and mail an approval or denial within 20 business days.

Rated below 100%? Virginia's statewide full exemption is only for the 100%/P&T rating (or IU paid at the 100% rate). Below that, look at your locality's means-tested Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled program, which varies by city/county — for example, Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria each run their own version.

1. Find your city or county Commissioner of the Revenue (search “[your city/county] VA Commissioner of the Revenue veteran real estate tax exemption”). They administer this, not the state.
2. Get your VA award/benefit-summary letter showing a 100% permanent and total rating (or a rating paid at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability).
3. Ask for the local application, submit your VA documentation, and — if you own through a trust or co-own the home — bring those documents too.
4. Expect a written decision within 20 business days. Confirm the exemption posted by checking your next real estate tax bill.

Sources the exemption statute · the application-deadline statute · the 2011 Attorney General opinion · DVS tax-exemption guidance · Fairfax County relief · Alexandria relief

State income tax

What it is: Virginia does not tax your VA disability money, and it lets you subtract a capped amount of military retirement pay.

• VA disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) are not taxed. They are excluded from federal adjusted gross income, and because Virginia's income tax starts from that federal figure, they are not taxed by Virginia either.
• Military retirement pay — the Military Benefits Subtraction. Virginia lets you subtract military retirement income (and Survivor Benefit Plan payments to a surviving spouse). Per Virginia Tax's guidance, the subtraction is capped at up to $40,000 of eligible military benefits for tax year 2025 and later returns, with no age requirement. Bills to remove the cap (in the 2025 and 2026 sessions) were introduced but did not pass, so the $40,000 cap remains current law — confirm the current amount each filing season.
• What does NOT qualify: distributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or similar retirement accounts, and federal civil-service (CSRS/FERS) pensions, are not “eligible military benefits.” Only military retired pay and qualifying SBP payments count.
• Virginia also has a general Age Deduction for taxpayers 65 and older that can be combined with the Military Benefits Subtraction if you otherwise qualify for both.

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation never appears as income on your Virginia return (it should not be on your federal return either, and Virginia starts from your federal figures).
2. If you receive military retirement pay or SBP, claim the Military Benefits Subtraction on the current-year return; check the current Virginia Tax instructions for the exact line and the current dollar limit.
3. If a prior return taxed VA compensation or military retirement pay in error, fix it with a preparer familiar with military filings or by contacting Virginia Tax — this is a filing mechanic, not claims work.

Sources Virginia Tax military-benefits FAQ · Virginia Tax subtractions guidance

Vehicles, plates & tolls

What it is: Virginia offers three separate vehicle benefits for the most seriously disabled veterans — a one-time sales tax break at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), an ongoing local personal property tax exemption, and Disabled Veteran plates with a registration-fee waiver. They are administered by different offices, so treat them as three separate applications.

• Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (SUT) exemption (100% P&T). A veteran with a 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability is exempt from Virginia's motor vehicle sales and use tax on one vehicle (a passenger car, or a pickup/SUV under 10,000 lbs; motorcycles, trailers, mopeds, RVs and ATVs do not qualify). If you sell that vehicle, you can use the exemption again on a replacement. Apply at DMV with the Purchaser's Statement of Exemption (Form SUT 3, PDF) plus your VA benefit-summary letter when you title the vehicle; to recover tax you already paid, add the Application for Refund (Form SUT 2, PDF).
• Local personal property (vehicle) tax exemption (100% P&T). One motor vehicle (passenger car, pickup, or panel truck for personal use — not motorcycles) owned and used primarily by or for a veteran with a 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability is exempt from local personal property tax. A jointly owned vehicle of a married couple qualifies if either spouse is the qualifying veteran. It is effective January 1, 2021 (not retroactive) and ends at the veteran's death — it does not carry to a surviving spouse. The law keys on the 100%/P&T rating; if you are paid at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability, ask your Commissioner of the Revenue whether they extend it to IU.
• Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates. Veterans certified by the VA with a service-connected disability (and unremarried surviving spouses) can get DV plates. You get one set free if you (1) lost or lost the use of a leg, arm, or hand, (2) are blind, or (3) are certified permanently and totally disabled by the VA; other service-connected-disabled veterans may buy DV plates for the normal registration fee plus a $10 special plate fee.
• Registration-fee waiver. No annual registration fee is charged on one vehicle owned and used personally by a qualifying disabled veteran (or unremarried surviving spouse). As of a 2026 law (HB94, Chapter 39, signed March 31, 2026), this waiver now applies whether the vehicle carries DV plates or the Department's standard passenger plate — you no longer need DV-specific plates just to get the fee waiver, though you still need to certify your service-connected disability.
• Disabled-parking plate (for reserved spaces). Standard DV plates do not authorize parking in reserved disabled spaces — for that you need the disabled-parking version, which requires a licensed medical provider's certification.

1. If you are 100% P&T and buying a vehicle, take your VA benefit-summary letter and Form SUT 3 to DMV at titling for the sales tax exemption; if you already paid, file Form SUT 2 for a refund.
2. Contact your Commissioner of the Revenue to apply the local personal property tax exemption on that vehicle (effective 2021 forward).
3. At DMV, apply for DV plates (free if P&T, blind, or loss/loss-of-use of a limb; otherwise the $10 plate fee) if you want them, and separately claim the registration-fee waiver at the counter before you pay — since 2026 it applies to a standard passenger plate too, so DV plates are no longer required to get it.
4. If you need reserved-space parking, ask specifically for the disabled-parking plate and bring the required medical certification.

Sources DMV sales-tax exemption · the vehicle-tax statute · DMV disabled-veteran plates · the plates statute · DMV parking-placard page

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: a free state-parks passport for 100%-rated veterans, and steeply reduced lifetime hunting and fishing licenses that scale with your rating, through the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

• Disabled Veteran's Passport (state parks). Veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating get free vehicle entry and admission to Virginia state parks (holder plus an assistant at per-person-fee parks), a 50% discount on camping, swimming, picnic shelters, and equipment rentals, and free boat/horse-trailer parking. Apply by emailing the application and your VA documentation to [email protected] (Form DCR 199-036, PDF).
• Resident disabled-veteran lifetime hunting & fishing license (fees scale by rating). DWR issues a lifetime license at reduced or no cost, priced per license type, roughly: totally and permanently disabled — freshwater fishing $0, hunting $0, trapping about $15; 70% or more — about $50 fishing / $50 hunting; 50% to less than 70% — about $75 each; 30% to less than 50% — about $100 each; optional durable hard-card about $10. Treat these dollar figures as a guide and confirm the current fee schedule on the application (DWR application, PDF).
• Free national-parks pass (federal, separate). Any veteran with a service-connected disability can also get a free lifetime Interagency Access Pass to national parks and federal recreation lands — that is a federal National Park Service benefit, not a Virginia one.

1. For the state-parks passport, complete Form DCR 199-036, attach VA proof of your 100% rating, and email both to [email protected].
2. For the lifetime hunting/fishing license, get your VA rating letter, download the DWR application, confirm the current fee for your rating tier, and submit it to DWR.
3. For the national-parks pass, bring VA proof of a service-connected disability to any pass-issuing federal site or order it online through the National Park Service.

Sources the parks-pass statute · Virginia State Parks passes · the license statute · DWR lifetime licenses · National Park Service passes

Education for you & your family

What it is: Virginia's flagship education benefit tied to your rating is for your spouse and children — the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which waives tuition and fees at Virginia public colleges. Your own tuition help is mainly federal (GI Bill / Chapter 31), so I point you to a VSO for that.

• VMSDEP tuition & fee waiver. Provides a waiver of all tuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters at a Virginia public two- or four-year college for the spouse or child, generally ages 16 through 29 (DVS can certify an older dependent in extenuating circumstances), of a veteran the VA has rated totally and permanently disabled, or at least 90% permanently disabled, as a result of military service (also covers dependents of service members killed, missing in action, or held as prisoners of war). Eligible students may also receive a stipend toward room, board, and books, subject to available funding. Residency test: generally the service member must have established Virginia domicile at the time of entering active duty, or the family must show at least 5 years of Virginia domicile or physical presence before applying — bills in the 2026 General Assembly session to shorten this 5-year window did not pass (carried over for 2027 consideration), so it remains the current rule. DVS certifies eligibility; the college applies the waiver. Apply through the VMSDEP portal.
• For the veteran's own schooling: VMSDEP is for dependents, not for you. Your own education benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment) are federal — a free accredited VSO or your school's Veteran Certifying Official can help you use them.

1. Confirm your rating meets the VMSDEP threshold (90% or higher permanent, or totally and permanently disabled) and that your dependent meets the residency/relationship rules on the DVS VMSDEP page.
2. Have your dependent apply through the VMSDEP portal so DVS can certify eligibility.
3. Once certified, coordinate with the college's military/veteran services office so the waiver is applied against actual tuition and fees.

Sources DVS VMSDEP page · Code of Virginia §23.1-608

State Veterans' Homes & long-term care

What it is: Virginia operates state Veterans Care Centers offering skilled nursing, memory/dementia care, and short-term rehabilitation for Virginia veterans, coordinated through DVS Healthcare.

• The care centers: Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center (Richmond), Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center (Roanoke), Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center (Virginia Beach), and Puller Veterans Care Center (Fauquier County / Warrenton).
• Eligibility and cost combine VA and state/facility criteria, and your disability rating can affect what the VA pays toward your care — the exact figures are set by the facility and the VA, so confirm your specific cost and eligibility directly with DVS Healthcare or the care center's admissions office.

1. Pick the nearest care center from the DVS homes directory.
2. Call that center's admissions office, ask for the application and physician's-statement packet, and confirm your specific cost given your VA rating.
3. Have your discharge document (DD Form 214) and VA rating letter ready to submit.

Sources DVS state veterans homes

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Virginia gives hiring preference to veterans — and extra weight to service-connected-disabled veterans — in local and state government, and offers a free service-disabled-veteran business designation that unlocks state contracting preferences.

• Local government hiring. Virginia law requires localities to consider or give preference to honorably discharged veterans and people with disabilities in hiring (once the applicant meets the job's requirements), with additional consideration for veterans who have a VA-rated service-connected disability.
• Private employers. Virginia law permits (does not require) private employers to grant a hiring or promotion preference to veterans or the spouse of a disabled veteran.
• Commonwealth (state) jobs. Per Code of Virginia §2.2-2903 and DHRM Policy 2.10, state agencies must give hiring preference to veterans, National Guard members, and the surviving spouse or child of a service member killed in the line of duty. Where a scored test is used, that means a credit of an additional 5% of the score (10% if you are a veteran with a VA service-connected disability rating), after you first pass the test; since most state recruitments do not use scored tests, agencies instead apply that same 5%/10% level of preference as an additional consideration during screening and in the hiring manager's final decision.
• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business. Virginia's Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) offers a free service-disabled-veteran-owned business designation in the state vendor database, which opens up state procurement preferences.

1. When you apply for a local or state government job, claim veteran status and note your service-connected disability, with your DD Form 214 and VA rating letter ready.
2. For Commonwealth jobs, use the state veterans hiring resources and confirm the current preference details there.
3. If you own or want to start a business, get the free service-disabled-veteran designation through SBSD to access state contracting preferences.

Sources the local-hiring statute · the private-employer statute · Code of Virginia §2.2-2903 (Commonwealth hiring preference) · DHRM Policy 2.10 guide (PDF) · state jobs portal · SBSD veteran certification · DVS business designation

Other: burial & veteran business

What it is: Virginia runs its own veterans cemeteries at no cost to eligible veterans and families, and some localities add smaller business-license breaks.

• State veterans cemeteries. Virginia operates three — Virginia Veterans Cemetery (Amelia), Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery (Suffolk), and Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery (Dublin). For an eligible veteran (and eligible spouse/dependents), there is no cost for the grave or cremation site, opening/closing, a memorial headstone, the burial receptacle, use of the committal shelter, and perpetual care; the U.S. burial flag is provided by the federal VA.
• Local business-license fee relief. Some Virginia cities and counties waive local business-license fees for disabled veterans, but this is locality-specific, not a uniform statewide rule — confirm with your local Commissioner of the Revenue or business-license office.

1. For burial, contact DVS Veteran Cemeteries to confirm eligibility and reserve; keep the DD Form 214 with your records so family can act quickly.
2. For a local business-license break, ask your Commissioner of the Revenue whether your city or county offers one for disabled veterans.

Sources DVS veteran cemeteries

Who to call

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is your single front door for the programs above and staffs free accredited Veterans Service Representatives statewide to help with a VA claim, a rating, or applying for these benefits.

• Website: dvs.virginia.gov; benefits hub: dvs.virginia.gov/benefits-services
• Find a local DVS office (free claims help): DVS — Find a DVS Office Near You
• DVS headquarters: 101 North 14th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219; phone (804) 786-0286. DVS — Contact Us
• Property tax questions: your local Commissioner of the Revenue (they administer the exemption), plus DVS — Tax Exemptions

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 DVS or at VA.gov. Never pay a private company for basic claims help.
2. State-program questions (property tax, vehicle tax, plates, parks, education, care centers, hiring) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at dvs.virginia.gov.

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