Veteran's Tax Credit Information
Qualifications
To qualify for the Optional Veterans' Tax Credit ($750 credit):
- Reside in the state for at least one year prior to April 1st in the tax year for which you are applying and have served not less than 90 days on active service in the armed forces of the United States in any qualifying war or armed conflict determined by the State;
- Be honorably discharged or be an officer honorably separated from service;
- Be the spouse or surviving spouse of such resident;
- Title 10 training for active duty by a member of the National Guard or reserve shall be included as service;
- Be terminated from the armed forces because of service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse of such resident;
- Be the surviving spouse of any resident who suffered a service-connected death
Qualifying wars or armed conflicts:
- World War I – Between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918
- World War II – Between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946
- Korean Conflict – Between June 25, 1950 and January 31, 1955
- Vietnam Conflict – Between December 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975
- Vietnam Conflict – Between July 1, 1958 and December 22, 1961, if the resident earned the Vietnam Service Medal or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Persian Gulf War – Between August 2, 1990 and the date thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law
- Any other war or armed conflict that has occurred since May 8, 1975 in which the resident earned an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Theater of Operations Service Medal
To qualify for the All Veterans Tax Credit ($750 credit):
Reside in the state and have served not less than 90 days on active service in the armed forces of the United States;
- Be honorably discharged or an officer honorably separated from service;
- Be the spouse or surviving spouse of such resident;
- Title 10 training for active duty by a member of the National Guard or reserve shall be included as service;
- Applicant is not required to serve in a qualifying war or conflict nor earn a qualifying medal as is required for the standards veterans’ tax credit
- The applicant is not eligible for this tax credit if receiving a standard veterans’ tax credit
Credit for Surviving Spouse of a Veteran Who Was Killed or Died on Active Duty
If you are the surviving spouse of any person who was killed or dies while on active duty in the armed forces, you may be eligible for a tax credit. You will need to submit documentation from the Veterans Administration to support your status.
Credit for Service-Connected Total & Permanent Disability ($4000 credit)
If you are a qualified veteran with a total and permanent service-connected disability, or are a double amputee or paraplegic, or you are the surviving spouse of such a veteran, you may be eligible for a tax credit. You will need to submit documentation from the Veterans Administration to support your status.
Total Exemption
If your homestead has been specially adapted because of your service-related disability, you may be eligible for a total exemption from property taxes. You will need to submit documentation from the Veterans Administration to support your status, as well as documentation of the specially adapted homestead, and financing with the assistance of the Veterans Administration.
Surviving Spouse
For these purposes, the term “surviving spouse” does not include a surviving spouse who has remarried, but if the surviving spouse is later divorced, he or she regains the status of surviving spouse of a veteran. If the surviving spouse remarries and the new husband or wife dies, he or she shall be deemed the widow or widower of the latest spouse and shall not revert to the status of a surviving spouse of a veteran.
To be considered for a Veteran’s Tax Credit, you must file an application with the Selectmen's Office by April 15th for that tax year.