Friday, January 1, 2010
For IMMEDIATE Release

Property Tax Exemptions Reduce Disabled Veterans' Taxes

Veterans with a service-connected disability may reduce their property taxes in 2010 by filling out a simple exemption form at the San Jacinto County Appraisal District office. Under recently approved legislation a veteran may qualify for a 100 percent exemption of his or her taxes.

A veteran’s percentage of service-connected disability determines the amount of the exemption - from a $5,000 to a $12,000 deduction from the veteran's property value.

The law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, spouses and survivors of deceased disabled veterans and spouses and survivors of military personnel who died on active duty. The amount of exemption is determined according to percentage of service-connected disability.

Any eligible person who has not received this exemption should apply by April 30. An applicant may claim the exemption on only one piece of property, such as a home or any other property the applicant owned on Jan. 1. The applicant must be a Texas resident to qualify.

A disabled veteran who receives from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor 100 percent disability compensation due to a service-connected disability and a rating of 100 percent disabled or of individual unemployability is entitled to an exemption from taxation of the appraised value of the veteran’s residence homestead. The law does not provide this exemption to spouses and survivors of deceased disabled veterans.

The appraisal district may require proof of the disability, such as documentation from the Veterans Administration or the branch of the armed services in which the veteran served.

For more information about the property tax exemption for disabled veterans, contact the San Jacinto County Appraisal District at 99 Slade St, Coldspring, 936-653-1450. More information is also available from the state Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division at (800) 252-9121, ext. 1, or visit the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/.