How to apply for California Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption (Basic)

Who it's for

California exempts a portion of a disabled veteran's principal residence from property tax. The basic tier exempts roughly the first $175,000 of assessed value for veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or who are receiving compensation at the 100% rate due to unemployability), with NO income limit — it is available regardless of household income. The exemption is also available to unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans, including survivors of service members who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition. For a typical California home this translates to roughly $1,500–$2,000 per year in property tax savings. The exemption replaces the standard Homeowners' Exemption (a homeowner claims one or the other, not both), and a qualifying veteran claims the higher-value low-income tier instead if their household income is at or below the published limit.

What you'll need

• VA disability rating letter showing 100% service-connected disability OR documentation of receipt of compensation at the 100% rate due to unemployability
• Discharge papers (DD-214) showing character of service
• Recent property tax bill or deed
• For surviving spouses: marriage certificate plus the veteran's death certificate

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Confirm eligibility before applying. You must own and occupy the property as your principal residence. The veteran must have a VA service-connected disability rated at 100%, receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability, be blind in both eyes, or have lost the use of two or more limbs. Unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans — including survivors of service members who died on active duty or from a service-connected cause — also qualify.
2. Gather your required documents. Veterans need their VA disability rating letter showing 100% service-connected disability (or documentation of compensation at the 100% rate due to unemployability), their DD-214 discharge papers showing character of service, and a recent property tax bill or deed. Surviving spouses also need the marriage certificate and the veteran's death certificate.
3. Note that this exemption replaces the standard Homeowners' Exemption — you may claim one or the other, not both. If your household income is at or below the county assessor's published limit, ask about the higher-value low-income tier instead.
4. Apply online through your California County Assessor's office. Search for your specific county assessor's website to find the online application portal for the Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption.
5. Submit your completed application along with all required supporting documents through the online portal. Double-check that every document is included before submitting to avoid delays.
6. Keep a copy of your submitted application and all documents for your records. Contact your County Assessor's office directly if you have questions about your submission or want an estimate of processing time.

What to expect: After submitting, your County Assessor's office will review your application and documents. Processing times vary, so contact your local assessor for an estimate. If approved, the exemption reduces the assessed value of your principal residence by roughly the first $175,000, which typically translates to around $1,500–$2,000 per year in property tax savings for a California home. Because the basic tier has no income requirement, there is no annual income re-certification — this is a one-time filing. You only need to re-file if your eligibility changes, such as a change in disability status, ownership, or marital status for surviving spouses.

Renewals

one-time (basic tier is not income-tested, so no annual income re-certification; re-file only if eligibility changes)