Veteran Bonuses by State

Editor’s note: This post originally published on Army Wife Network in December 2014. It has been revised and updated. 

When it comes to retiring, ETSing, or leaving the military service to finally put down deep roots, once concern is tax benefits and other privileges. Let us make the research easier for you (though we can’t help with the decision-making). For more information and a detailed account of a specific state’s benefits, click the state name. Please note that eligibility for any of these benefits may depend on residency, military component, and veteran disability status.

Alabama: If you are a resident of Alabama, you can receive a state tax advantage, property tax exemptions, Alabama National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, preference in state classified employment, and fishing license privileges.

Alaska: State benefits include the Permanent Dividend Fund, military credit toward state retirement, property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, Veterans Land Discount, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Arizona: State benefits include tax and license fee exceptions, education and tuition sssistance, vehicle license plates, State Park benefits, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Arkansas: Among other benefits, the state offers property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

California: Benefits include disabled veteran property tax exemptions, California National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Colorado: Residents of this state may be able to receive retired military pay and property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Connecticut: If you are a member or veteran of the Connecticut National Guard who served on active duty status on or after Sept. 11, 2001, you may be eligible for the Wartime Service Bonus. Those who have served on active duty in a non-combat zone can receive $50 a month for every month served on active duty, for up to $500 for non-combat service. Those who served on active duty in a combat zone can receive $50 a month for every month served, up to $1,200. In addition, Connecticut offers other special benefits including a Soldiers, Sailors’, and Marines’ fund, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Delaware: Benefits include state employment preferences and assistance, education and tuition assistance, special vehicle tags, veterans homes, burial benefits, and hunting and fishing licenses.

Florida: Residents of this state can receive benefits including homestead tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Georgia: If you are a resident of Georgia, you may be eligible to receive tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, free driver’s licenses, vehicle tags, home care for war veterans, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Hawaii: Benefits include property tax exemptions, Hawaii National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, vehicle license plates, tax exemption on passenger cars, preference in state and county classified employment, and state veterans cemetery benefits.

Idaho: Residents of this state can receive benefits including compensation for state active duty, Idaho National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, State Park passes, vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Illinois: If you are a resident of this state you can receive property tax exemptions, exemptions for specially adapted housing and mobile homes, state employment preferences and assistance, education and tuition assistance, special vehicle tags, veterans homes, burial benefits, hunting and fishing licenses, and state camping privileges.

Indiana: Benefits include state income tax exemptions, retired military pay and property tax exemptions, education and tuition assistance, special military vehicle tags, hunting and fishing license privileges, and State Park privileges.

Iowa: Residents can receive veterans employment assistance, War Orphans Education Aid, special vehicle license plates, hunting and fishing license privileges, and State Park privileges.

Kansas: If you are a resident of this state, you can receive Kansas National Guard and Reserve Service Member Emergency Assistance, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System military benefits, Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program, special vehicle license plates, and Department of Wildlife Parks and tourism benefits.

Kentucky: Veterans can receive state tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Louisiana: Benefits include property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, State Park passes, and hunting and fishing license Privileges.

Maine: If you are a resident of this state, you can receive a homestead exemption, tax exemptions, employment assistance, employment preference, tuition aid grants, State Park and campground reduced fees, special vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing privileges.

Maryland: Benefits include retired military pay tax exemptions, education and tuition assistance, employment services, special military vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Massachusetts: The state offers one-time benefits for veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. For active duty and discharged veterans that have served since Sept. 11, 2001, there is a Global War on Terrorism Welcome Home Bonus. In addition, residents are eligible for state bonus programs, state annuities, property tax exemptions, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, hunting and fishing license privileges, and state employment hiring preference for veterans, Prisoners of War, and National Guard Members.

Michigan: If you are a resident of this state, you may be eligible for property tax exemptions, the Michigan National Guard Tuition Program, State National Guard retirement pay, employment assistance, civil service preference, special vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing license benefits.

Minnesota: Benefits include State Service Members’ Assistance Fund, compensation for state active duty, special license plates, and education benefits for Minnesota veterans, service members, and eligible family members.

Mississippi: If you are a resident of this state, you may be eligible for tax exemptions on military pay and retired military pay, property tax exemptions, state employment assistance and preferences, education and tuition assistance, special military vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Missouri: Veterans can receive retired military pay and property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, special military vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Montana: Residents can receive benefits like property tax exemptions, Montana National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, education and tuition assistance, Point Preference or Alternative Preference in Initial Hiring, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Nebraska: Benefits include veterans emergency assistance, Nebraska Homestead Exemption, Nebraska State Tuition Waiver, dependents of POW/MIA or deceased veterans’ special vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing licenses.

Nevada: If you are a resident of this state you can receive state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, disabled veteran tax exemption, state veterans burial benefits, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

New Hampshire: Any resident of New Hampshire who served on active duty between Aug. 2, 1990, and Nov. 30, 1995, and who earned the Southeast Asia Service Medal is eligible for a one-time bonus of $100 as part of the Persian Gulf War Bonus. A similar bonus is offered to post-9/11 veterans under the Global War on Terrorism Bonus. Other veteran benefits include property tax exemptions, war bonuses, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, special vehicle tags and parking privileges, State Park admission benefits, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

New Jersey: Residents of this state can receive income tax exemptions on retired military pay and property tax, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, New Jersey distinguished military medals, burial benefits, free State Park admission, free private beach facilities, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

New Mexico: Benefits include property tax exemptions, New Mexico National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

New York: Veterans can receive property tax exemptions, New York National Guard Tuition Program, Military Service Recognition Scholarships, compensation for state active duty, employment assistance, civil service preference, special vehicle license plates, hunting and fishing license privileges, and State Park privileges.

North Carolina: If you are a resident of this state, you can receive property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

North Dakota: Benefits include state educational benefits for dependents of MIA/POWs, tax exemptions for the disabled, and veteran’s preference in public employment. They also administer a Veterans Aid Loan Program, a Grant Program, and a Transportation Program.

Ohio: Veterans can receive veterans’ burial expenses, employment assistance, public employment preference, compensation for state active duty, MIA/POW Orphans Scholarship, civil service preference, special vehicle license plates, hunting and fishing license privileges, and State Park privileges.

Oklahoma: If you are a resident of this state, benefits include 100% veteran disability tax exemption, financial assistance program, employment assistance, veteran’s employment preference, tuition aid grant, special vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing privileges.

Oregon: Benefits include state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, Oregon Parks and Recreation special access pass for veterans with disabilities and active-duty military on leave, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Pennsylvania: Residents of this state can receive veterans emergency assistance, disabled veterans’ real estate exemption, educational gratuity, veterans employment assistance, blind veterans pension, paralyzed veterans’ pension, civil service preference, special vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing licenses.

Rhode Island: Veterans can receive employment preference, tax exemptions, education assistance and scholarships, and special vehicle license plates.

South Carolina: Benefits include income tax exemption on retirement pay, property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

South Dakota: Residents of South Dakota who served on active-duty status during the following conditions are eligible for a one-time bonus of $500:

• if you served in an active-duty capacity between Aug. 2, 1990, and March 3, 1991
• if your active-duty combat service was in a hostile area qualifying for the Southwest Asia Service Medal between March 4, 1991, and Dec. 31, 1992
• if your combat service was in a hostile area qualifying for any United States campaign or service medal awarded for combat operations between Jan. 1, 1993, and Sept. 10, 2001
• if you had any active service on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Veterans with qualifying service after Jan. 1, 1993, may be eligible for a second bonus up to $500. Other state benefits include property tax exemption for veterans and their surviving spouses, compensation for state active duty, South Dakota tuition for veterans, hunting and fishing cards for disabled veterans, and free admission and reduced camping fees at South Dakota State Parks for veterans.

Tennessee: If you are a resident of this state, you may qualify for veterans employment preference, property tax relief, county motor vehicle tax relief, special vehicle license plates, burial eligibility in Tennessee’s State Veterans Cemeteries, lifetime hunting and fishing license privileges, and lifetime State Park privileges.

Texas: Benefits include property tax exemptions, state retirement benefits, Veterans Home Improvement Loan Program, Texas National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, veterans employment preference, vehicle license plates, hunting and fishing license privileges, and more.

Utah: Veterans can receive property tax exemptions, Utah National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program, veterans job preference, state education and tuition assistance, free admission to State Parks (Honor Pass), vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Vermont: If you are a resident of this state, you can receive property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Virginia: Benefits include state tax advantages, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Washington: Veterans can receive property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

West Virginia: If you are a resident of this state, you can receive state tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, special vehicle tags, and hunting and fishing license privileges.

Wisconsin: Residents in this state have access to benefits, programs, and services to assist them in enhancing their education and employment, traveling to VA medical appointments, obtaining needed health care services not provided by VA health care, overcoming barriers to employment, and obtaining needed subsistence assistance in emergency situations, assistance in discharge upgrades, and obtaining medals that were not issued or lost, and more.

Wyoming: Veterans can receive Wyoming Veterans Property Tax Exemption, Military Assistance Trust Fund, veterans preference, employment and training services, vocational rehabilitation, unemployment benefits, special vehicle license plates, educational benefits for National Guard Service members, hunting and fishing license privileges, and State Park privileges.