With Veterans Day just around the corner, it seems like an appropriate time to review some core tax exemptions that veterans can receive. In today’s article, we outline the Georgia tax exemptions available to our brave men and women who have served in the armed forces.
In the state of Georgia, veterans—or their families—may be eligible for tax breaks on the following items:
Motor vehicle tax break
A disabled veteran who uses a VA grant to buy a vehicle that’s specially outfitted to accommodate their disability does not have to pay Georgia sales tax on the purchase.
A disabled veteran can also be exempt from paying property or title tax on any single vehicle they own, if their disability meets one of the following criteria:
- Veteran is deemed 100 percent disabled, per VA assessment.
- Veteran has lost—or permanently lost the use of—any of the following:
- One or both hands
- One or both feet
- One or both eyes
- Veteran’s vision is permanently impaired to a certain degree.
Homeowner tax break
A disabled veteran who owns a home and meets certain disability criteria is exempt from paying the homestead tax—up to $63,780. In addition, if the veteran passes away, their surviving spouse or children may also receive the same tax break, as long as they continue to reside in the same county.
Business tax break
Any veteran who runs a business or semi-profession does not have to pay associated local government taxes or fees for that business, provided that:
- The veteran received honorable discharge from service;
- They become at least 10 percent disabled if they served during wartime—or they became at least 25 percent disabled if they served during peacetime—and
- Their income is not liable for state income taxes.
The above is an overview of key state tax breaks available to veterans. It’s worth noting that qualifying veterans may also be eligible for additional federal tax benefits.