Ohio Veteran Benefits: State Benefits Guide

• Real property taxes on a homestead the disabled veteran owns and occupies are reduced each year an application has been approved. It is a credit on the tax bill, and it applies to only one homestead. The homestead includes up to one acre of surrounding land reasonably necessary for the home. Compare every state’s rule in the disabled veteran property tax exemption guide.

  “Real property taxes on a homestead owned and occupied, or a homestead in a housing cooperative occupied, by a disabled veteran shall be reduced for each year for which an application for the reduction has been approved.” (R.C. 323.152(A)(2)(a))

• The statute sets the reduction at the tax on $50,000 of true value, and that amount is indexed every year. The Department of Taxation publishes $58,000 for tax year 2025 and $59,400 for tax year 2026. The credit is the tax charged on that much of the home’s value, so it depends on your local tax rate.

  “The reduction shall equal the product obtained by multiplying fifty thousand dollars of the true value of the property in money, as adjusted under division (A)(1)(d) of this section, by the amounts described in divisions (A)(1)(c)(ii) to (iv) of this section.” (R.C. 323.152(A)(2)(a))

• Department of Taxation table of reduction amounts: the disabled veteran row reads $58,000 for tax year 2025 real property and $59,400 for tax year 2026 real property.

  “Disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a public service officer killed in the line of duty $58,000 $59,400” (Ohio Department of Taxation, Homestead Means Testing FAQ, reduction amounts table)

• A disabled veteran must have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions and must have received a total disability rating, or a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability, for a service-connected disability or combination of disabilities.

  “"Disabled veteran" means a person who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, including reserve components thereof, or of the national guard, who has been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions, and who has received a total disability rating or a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability for a service-connected disability or combination of service-connected disabilities as prescribed in Title 38, Part 4 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended.” (R.C. 323.151(F))

• There is no income limit for the disabled veteran branch, unlike the exemption for seniors and other disabled Ohioans.

  “There are no income requirements for those applying under the enhanced homestead exemption for service-connected disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and the surviving spouses of public service officers killed in the line of duty.” (Ohio Department of Taxation, Homestead Means Testing FAQ, question 3)

• The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran gets the same reduction, which continues until the surviving spouse dies or remarries. The spouse must have occupied the homestead when the veteran died and must own it (or keep occupying a cooperative unit).

  “Real property taxes on a homestead owned and occupied, or a homestead in a housing cooperative occupied, by the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran shall be reduced for each year an application for exemption is approved.” (R.C. 323.152(A)(2)(b))

• Since 2023 the spouse of a veteran who died before receiving the total rating can also qualify if the veteran otherwise qualified as a disabled veteran and owned and lived in the homestead (Senate Bill 43, effective October 27, 2023).

  “The individual dies before receiving a total disability rating described in division (F) of this section.” (R.C. 323.151(L)(2)(a))

• The spouse’s reduction continues through the tax year in which the surviving spouse dies or remarries.

  “In either case, the reduction shall continue through the tax year in which the surviving spouse dies or remarries.” (R.C. 323.152(A)(2)(b))

• To apply, file the Department’s form (DTE 105I for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses) with your county auditor. For real property the application is due on or before December 31 of the year for which the exemption is sought.

  “To apply, complete the applicable application form and then file it with your local county auditor.” (Ohio Department of Taxation, Homestead Means Testing FAQ, question 4)

• House Bill 479 (136th General Assembly, 2026) has a one-time reduction for homestead exemption property, which includes a disabled veteran’s homestead that qualifies under 323.152(A) for tax year 2026. The reduction is an equal share of a Property Tax Relief Fund balance among all eligible homes, rounded down to the nearest dollar, applied against the first-half tax bill (and any excess against the second half), so the amount is not set in the bill. This is the enrolled text; the copy read shows no signing or effective date, so confirm with your county auditor that it is in effect.

  “Real property taxes or manufactured home taxes on each eligible home shall be reduced for tax year 2026, in the case of property on the real property tax list, or for tax year 2027, in the case of property on the manufactured home tax list.” (Am. Sub. H.B. 479 (136th G.A.), Section 19(C), enrolled text (Internet Archive copy, captured September 2, 2026))

• House Bill 96 (signed June 2025) lets a county add a local-option homestead exemption equal to the state amount. It is not automatic, so check whether your county has adopted it. It is not reimbursed by the state.

  “The local option does not take effect unless it is expressly authorized by the county commissioners.” (Ohio Department of Taxation, Homestead Means Testing FAQ, question 16)

• Retired personnel pay for uniformed service is deductible. Survivor Benefit Plan payments to a surviving spouse or former spouse are included, to the extent not already excluded. See how every state taxes military retired pay.

  “Deduct, to the extent not otherwise deducted or excluded in computing federal or Ohio adjusted gross income for the taxable year, amounts received by the taxpayer as retired personnel pay for service in the uniformed services or reserve components thereof, or the national guard, or received by the surviving spouse or former spouse of such a taxpayer under the survivor benefit plan on account of such a taxpayer's death.” (R.C. 5747.01(A)(23))

• If your retirement comes from the federal civil service or FERS and is based partly on uniformed service, only the part attributable to the uniformed service is deductible.

  “If the taxpayer receives income on account of retirement paid under the federal civil service retirement system or federal employees retirement system, or under any successor retirement program enacted by the congress of the United States that is established and maintained for retired employees of the United States government, and such retirement income is based, in whole or in part, on credit for the taxpayer's uniformed service, the deduction allowed under this division shall include only that portion of such retirement income that is attributable to the taxpayer's uniformed service, to the extent that portion of such retirement income is otherwise included in federal adjusted gross income and is not otherwise deducted under this section.” (R.C. 5747.01(A)(23))

• Military pay and allowances for active duty service are deductible to the extent included in federal income, but not pay received while you are stationed in Ohio.

  “Deduct, to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income and not otherwise allowable as a deduction or exclusion in computing federal or Ohio adjusted gross income for the taxable year, military pay and allowances received by the taxpayer during the taxable year for active duty service in the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 5907.01 of the Revised Code, or reserve components thereof or the national guard. The deduction may not be claimed for military pay and allowances received by the taxpayer while the taxpayer is stationed in this state.” (R.C. 5747.01(A)(21))

• The War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship goes to children of deceased or disabled veterans. It is for the child, and the veteran’s own education is not covered by it.

  “Scholarships shall be granted only to children of deceased or disabled veterans of the armed services of the United States.” (R.C. 5910.03)

• For this chapter “disabled” means a service-connected disability of at least sixty percent, or receiving benefits for a permanent and total nonservice-connected disability, as determined by the VA.

  “"Disabled" means having a sixty per cent or greater service-connected disability or receiving benefits for permanent and total nonservice-connected disability, as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs.” (R.C. 5910.01(E))

• The veteran must have served at least 90 days (or been discharged for a disability incurred with less than 90 days’ service, or died in service) during one of the listed periods of service: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946; June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955; January 1, 1960 to May 7, 1975; August 2, 1990 to the end of the operations conducted as a result of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq; October 7, 2001 to the end of Operation Enduring Freedom; March 20, 2003 to the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or any other period of conflict the VA establishes for pension purposes.

  “Any person who was a member of the armed services of the United States for a period of ninety days or more, or who was discharged from the armed services due to a disability incurred while a member with less than ninety days' service, or who died while a member of the armed services; provided that such service, disability, or death occurred during one of the following periods” (R.C. 5910.01(B)(1))

• A member of the armed services who participated in an operation for which the armed forces expeditionary medal was awarded also counts as a veteran for this scholarship, and so does a U.S. merchant marine member who meets the statute’s separate tests.

  “Any person who was a member of the armed services of the United States and participated in an operation for which the armed forces expeditionary medal was awarded;” (R.C. 5910.01(B)(2))

• The child must have reached the 16th birthday but not the 25th at the time of application, and must have lived in Ohio for the last preceding year (a veteran who entered service from outside Ohio has a longer residency test).

  “At the time of application, have attained the sixteenth, but not the twenty-fifth, birthday;” (R.C. 5910.03(A))

• The child must also show financial need, as the board determines it.

  “Be in financial need, as determined by the board.” (R.C. 5910.03(C))

• The scholarship waives all of the general and instructional fees at an Ohio state-supported college or university, but the percentage may be reduced by the board in a year when the appropriation is too small. A grant at about the average scholarship value is available for certain private and career schools. Application steps and the current percentage are not confirmed here.

  “An exemption from the payment of one hundred per cent of the general and instructional fees at colleges and universities which receive support from the state of Ohio and are approved by the chancellor of higher education, except that the percentage may be reduced by the war orphans and severely disabled veterans' children scholarship board in any year that insufficient funds are appropriated to fully fund scholarships for all eligible students;” (R.C. 5910.04(A))

• The board may not reduce the percentage for scholarships awarded under section 5910.032 below one hundred percent. This page does not summarize who receives a 5910.032 scholarship.

  “The board shall not reduce the percentage to be paid for scholarships awarded pursuant to section 5910.032 of the Revised Code below one hundred per cent.” (R.C. 5910.04 (last paragraph))

• A disabled veteran who was awarded VA funds to buy a vehicle under the federal automobile assistance act, or who has a service-connected disability rated or compensated at 100 percent, may register a personal vehicle under this section. The VA is called the veterans’ administration in the statute.

  “Any disabled veteran who, because of a service-connected disability, has been or is awarded funds for the purchase of a motor vehicle under the "Disabled Veterans' and Servicemen's Automobile Assistance Act of 1970," 84 Stat. 1998, 38 U.S.C. 1901, and amendments thereto, and any disabled veteran having a service-connected disability either rated or compensated at one hundred per cent by the veterans' administration, may apply to the registrar for the registration of the disabled veteran's personal motor vehicle.” (R.C. 4503.41(A))

• The waiver covers the registration fee and service fee under the listed sections, any local motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504, the fee under section 4503.19 and fees for transferring a registration. The statute does not name a title fee or sales tax. Documentary evidence of the disability is required.

  “Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a disabled veteran is not required to pay any registration fee and service fee as required by sections 4503.038, 4503.04, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 4503.103 of the Revised Code, any local motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any fee charged under section 4503.19 of the Revised Code, or any fees associated with transferring a registration under section 4503.12 of the Revised Code.” (R.C. 4503.41(A))

• The plates are red, white and blue and carry the word “veteran” and the international wheelchair symbol.

  “the registrar or deputy registrar shall issue to the applicant a set of license plates, which shall be red, white, and blue in color and shall, in addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, be inscribed with the word "veteran" and imprinted with the international wheelchair symbol.” (R.C. 4503.41(B))

• A veteran can register as many vehicles as are titled and registered in the veteran’s name. The statute collects the listed fees and any local motor vehicle tax for each additional registration after the first registration, so the waiver is the first registration.

  “For each additional registration after the first registration, the registrar or deputy registrar shall collect any applicable fee imposed in sections 4503.038, 4503.04, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.103, and 4503.19 of the Revised Code, and any local motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code.” (R.C. 4503.41(C))

• The chief of the Division of Wildlife must provide by rule that a resident with a VA permanent and total disability, who receives a VA pension or compensation and was honorably discharged, and a veteran with the disabled veterans plates under 4503.41, can be issued fishing, hunting, fur taker, deer or turkey permits and the wetlands stamp free. Whether a license is annual, multi-year or lifetime is the chief’s decision. The Department of Veterans Services says these residents must apply in writing for a free license or permit, certified by the VA. The chief’s current license terms are not confirmed here.

  “Every resident of this state with a disability that has been determined by the veterans administration to be permanently and totally disabling, who receives a pension or compensation from the veterans administration, and who received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States, and every veteran to whom the registrar of motor vehicles has issued a set of license plates under section 4503.41 of the Revised Code, shall be issued a fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer or wild turkey permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, permits, and stamp, free of charge on an annual, multi-year, or lifetime basis as determined appropriate by the chief when application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided by the chief.” (R.C. 1533.12(B)(1))

• A former prisoner of war who was honorably discharged and is an Ohio resident can be issued a fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit or wetlands habitat stamp free, with no disability rating needed. The prisoner of war paragraph does not list deer or wild turkey permits, which the disabled veteran paragraph does.

  “Any person who has been a prisoner of war, was honorably discharged from the military forces, and is a resident of this state shall be issued a fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, permits, and stamp, free of charge on an annual, multi-year, or lifetime basis as determined appropriate by the chief when application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided by the chief.” (R.C. 1533.12(B)(5))

• The Department of Veterans Services page says Ohio residents with a veteran’s license plate showing the international wheelchair symbol, permanently and totally disabled veterans who receive pension or compensation for service-related injuries, and former prisoners of war must apply in writing for a free license or permit, and the application must be certified by the VA.

  “must apply in writing for a free license or permit. Applications must be certified by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.” (Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Recreation Discounts (retrieved October 30, 2026))

• A person on active duty stationed in Ohio can buy a resident hunting or fishing license even if not an Ohio resident, by showing active duty identification.

  “Such a person is eligible to obtain a resident hunting or fishing license regardless of whether the person qualifies as a resident of this state. To obtain a resident hunting or fishing license, the person shall present a card or other evidence identifying the person as being on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and as being stationed in this state.” (R.C. 1533.12(A)(1))

• A person honorably discharged from the uniformed services who lives in Ohio, or a reservist with more than 180 days of active duty under federal orders, files a certificate of service or discharge and receives additional credit of twenty percent of the total grade on a civil service examination in which the person passes. This does not depend on a disability rating.

  “Any person who has completed service in the uniformed services, who has been honorably discharged from the uniformed services or transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service, and who is a resident of this state and any member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard, who has completed more than one hundred eighty days of active duty service pursuant to an executive order of the president of the United States or an act of the congress of the United States may file with the director a certificate of service or honorable discharge, and, upon this filing, the person shall receive additional credit of twenty per cent of the person's total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.” (R.C. 124.23(C)(1))

• A reservist in good standing who completes initial entry-level training gets fifteen percent instead, and nobody gets both credits.

  “A member in good standing of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard, who successfully completes the member's initial entry-level training shall receive a credit of fifteen per cent of the person's total grade given in the examination in which the person receives a passing grade.” (R.C. 124.23(C)(2))

• The credit counts only if the applicant reaches the minimum passing grade without it.

  “No credit for seniority, efficiency, or any other reason shall be added to an applicant's examination grade unless the applicant achieves at least the minimum passing grade on the examination without counting that extra credit.” (R.C. 124.23(F))

• The director of veterans services governs the Ohio veterans’ homes. Admission rules, fees and eligibility are set by the department and are not restated here.

  “The director of veterans services shall govern the Ohio veterans' homes and have charge and custody of the homes' facilities.” (R.C. 5907.02)

• Ohio residents who are former prisoners of war, or honorably discharged veterans with a permanent and total disability as the VA determines it, get free camping at Ohio state parks. A veteran can request a letter confirming eligibility from the VA, and camping discounts are available only by calling the reservations center (Department of Veterans Services page retrieved October 30, 2026).

  “Free camping for Ohio residents who are former prisoners of war or honorably discharged veterans with a permanent and total disability, as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.” (Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Recreation Discounts (retrieved October 30, 2026))

• Military members and veterans get a 10 percent discount on any night of camping, getaway rentals, cottages and lodge rooms. It covers only one campsite, getaway rental, cottage or lodge room per visit, it must belong to the cardholder using it, and military or veteran identification must be shown at arrival or check-in.

  “10% discount any night for camping, getaway rentals, cottages, and lodge rooms” (Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Recreation Discounts (retrieved October 30, 2026))

• Free boat registration for eligible veterans; eligible Ohio residents are disabled veterans with a VA letter stating 100 percent service-related disability, Medal of Honor recipients with written documentation, and former prisoners of war with a record of separation or a letter from their branch.

  “Eligible Ohio residents include (1) disabled veterans with proof of 100% service-related disability in the form of a letter from the Veterans Affairs Administration stating 100% service-related disability, (2) Congressional Medal of Honor recipients with written documentation on their award and/or (3) former prisoners of war with their record of separation or a letter from one of the branches of the Armed Services stating they were a prisoner of war and were either honorably discharged or are on active duty with one of the branches of the Armed Services of the United States.” (Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Recreation Discounts (retrieved October 30, 2026))

• Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 223 on June 8, 2026. It requires the Chief of the Division of Parks and Watercraft to set up a discount program for veterans and service members on park services and rentals. How that program relates to the 10 percent discount above, and its start date, are not confirmed here.

  “Senate Bill 223, sponsored by State Senator Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville), to require the ODNR Chief of the Division of Parks and Watercraft to establish a discount program for veterans and service members for park services and rentals.” (Office of the Governor, news release of June 8, 2026)

• As of October 30, 2026, Ohio Department of Veterans Services pages other than Recreation Discounts are not used as sources, so veterans home admission, burial and cemetery rules, and the county veterans service office process are not confirmed here. Check dvs.ohio.gov.
• Whether Ohio has a veterans bonus open in 2026 is not confirmed: no official page showing an open bonus is used here, so this page lists none.
• Whether Ohio taxes VA disability compensation is not confirmed here: the statutes reviewed do not address it, so this page makes no statement.
• The Division of Wildlife’s current license terms for the free veteran licenses, which the chief sets by rule, are not confirmed here.
• The amount of the House Bill 479 one-time reduction is not set in the bill, and the signing and effective dates are not shown on the enrolled copy used here; confirm both with your county auditor.
• Other veteran license plates and plate fees, the Ohio National Guard scholarship, and county or city veteran programs are not confirmed here.

Federal VA compensation is separate. For monthly VA pay by rating see the VA disability pay chart 2026.

• Disabled veteran property tax exemption by state – all 50 states compared
• States that tax military retirement – every state’s rule for retired pay
• VA disability pay chart 2026 – federal monthly VA compensation by rating
• VA benefits by disability rating – what each rating unlocks
• VA disability calculator – combined rating and monthly compensation

• Texas veteran benefits – Hazlewood tuition, plates, hunting and state parks
• Florida veteran benefits – property tax exemption, plates, licenses and state parks
• California veteran benefits – property tax exemptions, College Fee Waiver and CalVet
• Virginia veteran benefits – property tax, VMSDEP tuition, plates and licenses
• Arizona veteran benefits – property tax, vehicle fee waiver, licenses and spouse tuition