KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Wyoming has no state income tax — military retirement pay, active duty pay, VA disability compensation, and all other income is completely free from state income taxation.
- Combat veterans and surviving spouses who have been Wyoming residents for 3 or more years may exempt $6,000 in assessed value — applied to either their primary residence or their vehicle registration tax.
- The $6,000 exemption applies to veterans who served in a qualifying armed conflict (including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 operations) and received an honorable discharge.
- Surviving spouse benefits end upon remarriage — the exemption is not portable to a new marriage.
- Wyoming offers veterans preference in state employment, discounted hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans, and burial at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery in Evansville.
- No State Income Tax
- Property and Vehicle Tax Exemption
- Education Benefits
- Employment Preference
- Hunting, Fishing, and Recreation
- Burial Benefits
- VA Facilities in Wyoming
- Wyoming Veterans Commission
- Frequently Asked Questions
Wyoming combines a strong financial foundation — no state income tax — with targeted combat veteran benefits and practical quality-of-life programs. The state’s relatively small veteran population means Veterans Commission resources can be more accessible, and Wyoming’s outdoors-centric culture makes its recreation benefits particularly valuable for veterans who moved there for the wide-open spaces. This guide covers Wyoming’s complete state-level veteran benefits for 2026.
No State Income Tax
Wyoming has no state income tax — one of nine states with this distinction. For veterans and service members, this means:
- Military retirement pay: 100% tax-free at the state level
- Active duty pay: 100% tax-free at the state level
- VA disability compensation: Tax-free federally and at the state level
- SBP payments: Tax-free at the state level
- All income sources: Wyoming imposes no state income tax on any income
Combined with Wyoming’s relatively low cost of living and the property/vehicle tax exemption for combat veterans, the state’s overall financial picture for veterans — particularly retirees — is very strong.
Property and Vehicle Tax Exemption
Wyoming’s veteran property benefit is distinctive in an important way: it’s flexible. Combat veterans can apply their $6,000 assessed-value exemption to either their primary residence property tax or their vehicle registration tax — whichever provides greater benefit in their personal situation.
- Amount: $6,000 exemption from assessed value, applied to either a primary residence or vehicle registration tax (not both)
- Residency requirement: The veteran must have been a Wyoming resident for 3 or more years
- Service requirement: Honorably discharged veteran of a qualifying armed conflict, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, or any conflict where the veteran received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other authorized service or campaign medal indicating service in an armed conflict in a foreign country
- Surviving spouse: The surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran is eligible for the same exemption; benefits end upon remarriage
- Apply through: Your county assessor’s office for the property exemption, or the Wyoming Department of Transportation for the vehicle registration exemption
Contact the Wyoming Department of Revenue or your county assessor to confirm current exemption amounts and eligibility verification procedures.
Education Benefits
- In-state tuition — GI Bill users: Veterans using GI Bill benefits at Wyoming public colleges receive in-state tuition rates regardless of residency, provided they enroll within three years of discharge (federal Choice Act)
- Wyoming National Guard Education Benefits: Guard members may qualify for state tuition assistance at Wyoming public institutions. Contact the Wyoming National Guard Education Services Office for current program details
- Yellow Ribbon participation: Check the VA’s Yellow Ribbon school finder for Wyoming institutions currently participating in the program
Employment Preference
Wyoming provides veterans’ preference in state civil service employment for honorably discharged veterans. Preference points are added to competitive examination scores. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive additional preference. Contact the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Human Resources Division for current preference rules and application procedures.
Hunting, Fishing, and Recreation
Wyoming’s outdoor recreation benefits are a meaningful quality-of-life advantage — particularly in a state defined by its hunting, fishing, and wide-open terrain:
- Hunting and fishing licenses: Wyoming offers reduced-cost or free licenses for qualifying disabled veterans. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department administers these programs — contact them directly for current eligibility thresholds and license fee schedules
- State park access: Discounted or free access to Wyoming state parks may be available for qualifying veterans — verify with the Wyoming State Parks office
- Veterans license plates: Available through the Wyoming Department of Transportation, with branch-of-service and other veteran designation options
Burial Benefits
The Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery in Evansville (near Casper) provides burial at no cost for eligible veterans and qualifying dependents including spouses. The cemetery offers full military funeral honors including flag presentation. Contact the cemetery through the Wyoming Military Department, Veterans Services to establish eligibility in advance.
Federal headstones and markers are available at no cost for eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries through the National Cemetery Administration.
VA Facilities in Wyoming
Wyoming is served by the Cheyenne VA Medical Center, with Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Casper, Gillette, Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan, and Torrington providing access across the state’s vast geography. Wyoming veterans living in the northern part of the state may also access the Sheridan VA Medical Center.
Find the nearest VA facility using the VA facility locator.
Wyoming Veterans Commission
The Wyoming Veterans Commission, operating under the Wyoming Military Department, provides claims assistance, benefit counseling, and connection to VA services for Wyoming veterans. County Veterans Service Officers are available statewide to provide free in-person assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — Wyoming has no state income tax at all. Military retirement pay, active duty pay, VA disability compensation, SBP payments, and all other income sources are completely free from state income taxation. This is among the strongest baseline financial advantages Wyoming offers veterans compared to income-tax states.
Combat veterans who have been Wyoming residents for 3 or more years can exempt $6,000 of assessed value from either their primary residence property tax or their vehicle registration tax — but not both simultaneously. The flexibility to choose which asset the exemption applies to is a unique feature of Wyoming’s program. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans are also eligible, but the benefit ends upon remarriage. Apply through your county assessor (property) or the Wyoming DOT (vehicle).
The exemption applies to honorably discharged veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and any conflict in which the veteran received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other authorized service or campaign medal for service in an armed conflict in a foreign country. This covers the vast majority of post-WWII veterans who served in any overseas combat-adjacent operation.
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. Benefits and eligibility rules may change — verify current information with the Wyoming Veterans Commission or your local Veterans Service Officer.