Veteran Benefits in Virginia

Key Takeaways

• Virginia allows all military retirees to subtract up to $40,000 of retirement pay from state taxable income starting in the 2025 tax year, with no age requirement.
• Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability are exempt from property taxes on their primary residence and one vehicle.
• The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides up to eight semesters of tuition-free education at Virginia public colleges for qualifying dependents and spouses.
• Virginia operates four state veterans care centers in Roanoke, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and the newly opened Puller Veterans Care Center in Fauquier County.
• The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program connects transitioning service members with certified employers, resume support, and career coaching at no cost.
• Disabled veterans can receive free or discounted lifetime hunting, fishing, and state parks passes depending on their disability rating.

Table of Contents

• Overview of Virginia Veteran Benefits
• Income Tax Benefits
• Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
• Vehicle Tax Exemption
• Education Benefits
• Employment and Transition Assistance
• Veterans Care Centers
• Recreation and Outdoor Benefits
• State Veterans Cemeteries
• License Plates and Motor Vehicle Benefits
• How to Access Virginia Veteran Benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions

Overview of Virginia Veteran Benefits

Virginia is home to approximately 612,000 veterans, making up roughly 9.1% of the state’s population — the second-highest concentration among all U.S. states and territories. With major military installations including Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and the Pentagon, the Commonwealth has a deep connection to military service and has built one of the most comprehensive state veteran benefit programs in the country.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) serves as the primary agency connecting veterans and their families to benefits and services. DVS operates a network of 38 benefit service offices across the state where veterans can receive free assistance filing claims and navigating both federal and state programs. The agency also runs the state’s veterans care centers, cemeteries, and transition assistance programs.

Virginia has earned recognition as one of the best states in the country for military retirees, thanks to recent tax law changes, strong employment programs, and a veteran-friendly culture driven by the large military and defense community throughout the state.

Income Tax Benefits

Military Retirement Pay Subtraction

Virginia has phased in a generous income tax subtraction for military retirement pay that reached its full value in the 2025 tax year. All military retirees, regardless of age, can now subtract up to $40,000 of military retirement income from their Virginia taxable income. This subtraction applies to retirement pay included in federal adjusted gross income.

The phase-in started in 2022 at $10,000 and increased by $10,000 each year. Initially, the benefit was limited to retirees age 55 and older, but Virginia eliminated the age requirement beginning with the 2023 tax year. This means a military retiree of any age can now claim the full $40,000 subtraction.

A few important notes about this benefit:

• The subtraction applies only to military retirement pay included in your federal adjusted gross income.
• Distributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or similar retirement accounts do not qualify for this subtraction.
• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments follow the same subtraction rules.
• Medal of Honor recipients receive a full exemption of military retirement pay from Virginia state income tax.

For more details on Virginia’s military retirement tax treatment, visit the Virginia Department of Taxation and review their Military Benefits Subtraction FAQ.

Active Duty Pay Subtraction

Active-duty service members stationed in Virginia who earn less than $30,000 in base pay may deduct up to $15,000 from their Virginia state taxable income. For every $1 of income over $15,000, the maximum subtraction decreases by $1. Service members whose base pay reaches $30,000 or more are not eligible for the subtraction. The service member must be on active duty for 90 or more consecutive days to qualify.

National Guard Pay Subtraction

Virginia National Guard members may deduct up to 39 calendar days of service pay or $5,500, whichever is less, from their state income. This deduction is available to service members in pay grades O-6 and below. This eligibility was expanded in recent years — previously, the benefit was limited to O-3 and below with a lower cap of $3,000.

VA Disability and Survivor Benefits

VA disability compensation, VA pension payments, and survivor benefits payments are not included as taxable income in Virginia. Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness due to active service is also exempt from Virginia state income tax.

Military Spouse Tax Protection

Under the federal Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), income earned by a nonresident military spouse living in Virginia to be with a service member permanently stationed in the state is not subject to Virginia income tax. The spouse must reside in the same state as the service member to be eligible.

Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

Virginia provides a complete real property tax exemption for veterans who meet the following criteria:

• Rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100% service-connected, permanent, and total disability
• The property must be the veteran’s principal place of residence
• The exemption covers the dwelling and up to one acre of land

Veterans rated at less than 100% but who receive compensation at the 100% rate due to Individual Unemployability (IU) also qualify, provided the rating is permanent and total. There are no income or net worth requirements for this exemption.

The exemption begins on the date of the disability rating for ratings occurring after January 1, 2011. Veterans apply through their local Commissioner of the Revenue’s office and must provide a Summary of Benefits letter from the VA documenting the 100% permanent and total disability. In most localities, annual refiling is required.

Surviving Spouse Exemption

The surviving spouse of an eligible disabled veteran may also qualify for the property tax exemption, provided the veteran’s death occurred on or after January 1, 2011, and the surviving spouse does not remarry. As of July 1, 2019, surviving spouses are allowed to move to a different Virginia locality and retain the exemption.

In November 2024, Virginia voters ratified a constitutional amendment expanding the surviving spouse property tax exemption. Previously limited to spouses of service members “killed in action,” the amendment now covers spouses of service members who “died in the line of duty” as determined by the Department of Defense. This change became effective January 1, 2025.

For detailed eligibility requirements and applications, contact your local DVS office or Commissioner of the Revenue.

Vehicle Tax Exemption

Effective January 1, 2021, Virginia exempts one motor vehicle from local personal property tax for veterans who are rated 100% service-connected, permanently and totally disabled by the VA. The vehicle must be a passenger car or pickup truck that is owned (not leased) and used primarily by or for the veteran. Vehicles owned jointly with a spouse also qualify.

Unlike the real property tax exemption, the vehicle personal property tax exemption does not transfer to a surviving spouse upon the veteran’s death. Veterans should apply through their local Commissioner of the Revenue and provide documentation from the VA confirming their disability rating.

Education Benefits

In-State Tuition

Active-duty service members, National Guard members, and veterans are entitled to in-state tuition rates at Virginia public colleges and universities. Dependents of active-duty service members continue to receive in-state tuition even if the service member transfers or retires out of state — an especially valuable benefit for families navigating PCS moves during a student’s college years.

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)

The VMSDEP is one of Virginia’s most significant education benefits. It provides up to eight semesters of tuition and mandatory fee waivers at Virginia public colleges and universities, including Eastern Virginia Medical School. The program serves two tiers of eligibility:

Tier 1 covers spouses and children (ages 16–29) of service members or veterans who:

• Were killed in action or died in the line of duty
• Are missing in action or were taken prisoner of war
• Have a 90% or greater permanent service-connected disability due to military service in armed conflict

Tier 2 covers spouses and children of veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability regardless of whether the disability occurred during armed conflict.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 beneficiaries receive a full waiver of tuition and mandatory fees. Tier 2 beneficiaries may also be eligible for a stipend to help cover room, board, books, and supplies, subject to funding availability. The benefit covers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs at Virginia public institutions, as well as remedial and online courses offered through those schools.

Applications should be submitted at least 60 days before tuition is due, and students must update their enrollment each semester through the DVS portal. VMSDEP can be used concurrently with federal education benefits like DEA (Chapter 35).

Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program

Virginia National Guard members are eligible for the State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), which provides tuition grants for courses at Virginia public and private institutions. For Spring 2026, the funding cap was set at up to $4,500 per student, reduced from the previous semester’s $10,000 cap due to a surge in enrollment after the program returned to a grant model.

Under the current structure, schools bill the Virginia Department of Military Affairs directly — Guard members do not pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement. Service members who utilize the grant but receive a failing grade, incomplete, or withdrawal face indefinite suspension from the program, though they can request reinstatement through their chain of command.

Guard members who receive tuition assistance incur a two-year commitment to the Virginia National Guard upon completion of their last funded term. For current funding levels and application procedures, visit the Virginia National Guard Tuition Assistance page.

Employment and Transition Assistance

State Employment Preference

Virginia provides hiring preference for veterans seeking state government employment. When a scored test is used in the hiring process:

• Honorably discharged veterans receive a 5% addition to their passing score
• Disabled veterans may receive a 10% addition to their passing score
• National Guard members receive a 5% addition
• Surviving spouses and qualifying dependents (age 27 or younger) of service members killed in the line of duty receive a 5% addition

In positions where no scored test is used, Virginia has established guidelines for veterans to receive preference in other ways during the hiring process.

Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program

The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program is a DVS initiative that works from both sides of the employment equation. For employers, V3 provides training and certification for companies that commit to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans. V3-certified companies may qualify for up to $10,000 in employment grants, with $1,000 awarded per eligible veteran hired.

For transitioning service members and their spouses, the V3 Transition initiative offers peer-to-peer support including resume review, career coaching, mentorship, hands-on training opportunities, access to credentialing pathways, and connections with V3-certified employers. The program also coordinates “HIRE VETS NOW” career networking events at military installations across the state.

Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) Program

The MMAC program specifically recruits, reviews, and refers military medics and corpsmen to civilian healthcare employers across Virginia. While DVS does not provide licensure or direct financial assistance, the program helps clear the path for veterans to transition their military medical training into civilian healthcare careers.

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Waiver

Military personnel and veterans separated for 12 months or less who have two or more years of military heavy truck or bus driving experience are only required to pass the knowledge test for a Virginia CDL. The road skills test is waived. Veterans who qualify for the CDL skills test waiver may also qualify for an exemption of the CDL knowledge tests in some cases. Visit the Virginia DMV for details on the Troops to Trucks program.

Veterans Care Centers

Virginia operates four state veterans care centers that provide long-term skilled nursing care, dementia and memory care, and short-term rehabilitative care for honorably discharged veterans who are Virginia residents or entered military service from Virginia:

• Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center — Roanoke (540-982-2860), located adjacent to the Salem VA Medical Center
• Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center — Richmond (804-371-8434)
• Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center — Virginia Beach (757-630-5418)
• Puller Veterans Care Center — Warrenton, Fauquier County (540-680-5200), a 128-bed facility that held its grand opening in December 2025

The Puller Veterans Care Center is the newest addition to Virginia’s care system, built on the former Vint Hill Farms Station — a site that once served as a U.S. Army and National Security Agency facility. The center welcomed its first residents in early December 2025 and is designed with a homelike layout rather than a traditional nursing facility model.

All four facilities are designed to provide high-quality care in a dignified setting. Applicants must be honorably discharged Virginia residents who meet medical requirements for nursing home care. For admissions inquiries, contact the individual facility or call the DVS helpline at 855-4VA-VETS (855-482-8387).

Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS)

The VVFS program operates statewide through DVS and provides outreach, connection, and support to veterans and their families dealing with the challenges of military service, transition, deployments, post-traumatic stress, behavioral health concerns, traumatic brain injuries, and physical injuries. In January 2026, DVS awarded grants for suicide prevention and opioid addiction services to 57 organizations across the Commonwealth — reflecting the agency’s ongoing commitment to veteran mental health.

Recreation and Outdoor Benefits

State Parks — Veteran Disability Passport

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating are eligible for the Veteran Disability Passport from Virginia State Parks. This free pass provides:

• Free admission and vehicle parking at all Virginia state parks
• Free admission for anyone needed to assist the pass holder
• Free boat launch and horse trailer parking
• 50% discount on camping, swimming, shelters, multi-night standard yurt reservations, and equipment rentals
• 25% discount on single-night standard yurt reservations

Veterans do not need to be Virginia residents to qualify. To apply, submit a Veteran Disability Passport application along with your VA documentation showing 100% service-connected disability to Virginia State Parks via email at resvs@dcr.virginia.gov.

Active members of the Virginia National Guard are also eligible for a separate free state parks pass that provides entry for the Guard member and up to three immediate family members traveling in the same vehicle.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) offers free and discounted lifetime hunting and freshwater fishing licenses for disabled veterans based on disability rating:

• 100% service-connected disability: Free lifetime hunting and freshwater fishing license
• 70%–99% disability: $50 lifetime license
• 50%–69% disability: $75 lifetime license
• 30%–49% disability: $100 lifetime license

Saltwater fishing and trapping licenses are also available at discounted rates for disabled veterans. Nonresident veterans with permanent and total disabilities may be eligible for discounted annual Virginia hunting and freshwater fishing licenses as well. Applications require a VA disability benefit letter or Veterans’ Certificate of Disability as proof of eligibility.

Active-duty military personnel stationed in Virginia and their immediate families are eligible to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates.

State Veterans Cemeteries

Virginia operates three state veterans cemeteries:

• Virginia Veterans Cemetery — Amelia (804-561-1475)
• Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery — Suffolk (757-255-7217)
• Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery — Dublin (540-674-5360)

All three cemeteries accommodate in-ground burial of casketed remains, in-ground inurnment of cremated remains, and above-ground inurnment of cremated remains in a columbarium. Burial services for eligible veterans are provided at no cost, including the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, government headstone, outer burial receptacle, and perpetual care. Eligible family members (spouses, unmarried minor children under 21, and permanently disabled adult children) may be interred with the veteran for a small administrative fee.

Eligibility mirrors that of VA national cemeteries: members of the U.S. armed forces who died on active duty or were honorably discharged, as well as Reservists and National Guard members who completed active duty for training with an honorable discharge or who are currently serving in good standing.

License Plates and Motor Vehicle Benefits

Virginia offers a range of veteran-specific license plates through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, including branch-specific designs and special plates for disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and other recognized service categories. Veterans with a permanent and total disability may receive free disabled veteran license plates, which also serve as a handicapped parking permit — no additional placard is needed.

Veterans who left high school to serve during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War may also apply for an honorary Virginia high school diploma — a recognition of their service and the education they set aside to serve their country.

How to Access Virginia Veteran Benefits

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services operates 38 benefit service offices across the state, and all services are provided free of charge. DVS veteran service representatives can help you determine which benefits you and your family may be eligible for, assist with filing federal VA claims, and connect you with state-specific programs.

Veterans in Virginia are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from a DVS representative before filing VA claims. The service is free and offers several advantages over self-filing, including access to the representative’s knowledge of both federal and state benefits that may apply to your situation.

To get started:

• Find your nearest DVS office using the DVS Benefits & Services locator
• Schedule an appointment online or by calling 855-4VA-VETS (855-482-8387)
• Bring your DD-214, VA disability letters, and any relevant documentation to your appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, VA, or any government agency. For official benefit information, visit the Virginia Department of Veterans Services or contact your local DVS office.