How to apply for Pennsylvania Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (100% Rating)

Who it's for

Pennsylvania can remove the entire property tax bill on the home of a wartime veteran with a 100% permanent service-connected disability rating. The home must be the veteran's principal residence, owned by the veteran alone or together with a spouse. Financial need is part of the test, but it is generous: a household income of $114,637 a year or less is presumed to show need, and income above that level is reviewed case by case by the State Veterans' Commission. Since August 2024, VA disability pay and other veterans' benefits no longer count as income for this test. An unremarried surviving spouse may keep the exemption after the veteran dies. Apply through the County Director of Veterans Affairs in the county where the home is located.

What you'll need

• DD-214 or other military discharge paperwork showing honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge and wartime service
• VA award letter showing the 100% permanent service-connected rating (or total disability individual unemployability)
• Proof the home is the principal residence and is owned by the veteran, or jointly with a spouse
• Income information for the financial-need review (VA disability pay and other veterans' benefits are excluded)

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Confirm eligibility before applying. You must be a wartime veteran with a 100% permanent service-connected disability rating (or a qualifying condition such as TDIU, service-connected blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs). The home must be your principal residence and owned by you alone or jointly with a spouse. Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs to confirm which eligibility path fits your situation.
2. Gather your military discharge paperwork. This includes your DD-214 or other discharge documents showing an honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge and proof of wartime service (or a qualifying expeditionary medal).
3. Gather your VA award letter. This letter must show your 100% permanent service-connected disability rating or your total-disability individual-unemployability (TDIU) finding.
4. Gather proof of home ownership and principal residence. Documents should show that the home is owned by you, or jointly with a spouse, and that it is your primary place of residence.
5. Gather income information for the financial-need review. Note that VA disability pay and other veterans' benefits are excluded from this calculation. A gross household income of $114,637 a year or less (effective January 1, 2025) is presumed to show financial need. Income above that level is reviewed case by case by the State Veterans' Commission.
6. Apply online through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The application is processed through the County Director of Veterans Affairs in the county where your home is located.
7. Submit all required documents along with your completed application. Keep copies of everything you send in for your records.

What to expect: After submitting, your application is reviewed by the County Director of Veterans Affairs and, where needed, decided by the State Veterans' Commission. Processing times vary, so ask your County Director of Veterans Affairs for an estimate. If approved, the full property tax on your principal residence is removed. If your household income exceeds $114,637 a year, the Commission will review whether your allowable monthly expenses exceed your monthly income before making a decision. If you are an unremarried surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran, you may be eligible to keep the exemption after the veteran's death — ask the County Director of Veterans Affairs about this option. There is no stated renewal deadline, but contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs if your circumstances change, as changes in income, ownership, or residency may affect your exemption.