PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS

The following is primarily excerpted from the websites of the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management: www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2985&Q=383132
and the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs: www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=2005&q=293114

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM

Veterans who served during wartime are eligible for a reduction on the assessed value of their property, if they own property in town, or on their motor vehicle if they do not own property in town. To claim an exemption, veterans must present an original or certified copy of their Honorable Discharge papers (DD-214 Form) to their Town Clerk’s office for filing with the town's land records.  Exemptions must be claimed by October 1 for the current and following assessment years.  For income qualified veterans, an application must be filed biennially with the Assessor's office of their town of residence between February 1 and October 1.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR EXEMPTIONS

Veterans who served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard are eligible for exemptions if they served in wartime. Wartime service must have lasted at least 90 days, unless the veteran left service due to a service-related disability or the military action lasted less than 90 days. Income eligible veterans can also qualify for a higher exemption amount.

EXEMPTION AMOUNTS

All wartime veterans are eligible for an exemption of at least $1,500. Veterans with an income less than $32,300, if unmarried, and $39,500, if married, are eligible for an additional exemption up to $1,000.

HOW TO OBTAIN MILITARY RECORDS

Copies of discharge papers can be obtained through the National Archive's National Personnel Records Center. A Standard Request Form (SF 180) for military records can be downloaded from their website: www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ Or veterans can write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100.

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SOURCES: National Archives website; Office of Policy and Management, State of Connecticut website; Veterans Affairs, State of Connecticut Department of website
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CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: July2012