An estimated 113,210 veterans live in Idaho, making up 7.6% of the state's population or the 11th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Idaho Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free for retirees over 65 and disabled retirees over 62.
Veterans ages 65 or older, or disabled and age 62 or older, may claim the Grocery Tax Credit even when not required to file an income tax return if Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits are the veteran's only income.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Tax free if stationed out of state.
Idaho Veteran Property Taxes
Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, or those rated unemployable by the VA, may reduce the property tax on their home and up to one acre of land by as much as $1,500. The program doesn't have an income limit.
Veterans with at least a 10% service-connected disability may reduce the property tax on their home by up to $1,500 if they have income of $37,810 or less for 2024.
Idaho Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Veterans receive a waiver of non-resident fees while establishing residency.
Military Dependent Education
The Armed Forces/Public Safety Officer Dependent Scholarship waives tuition and fees for up to four academic years and provides up to $750 per semester for books, along with campus housing and subsistence, to resident undergraduates who are the children or spouses of Idaho military members who have fallen or are disabled to the point of unemployability.
Idaho Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Honorably discharged veterans receive 5 preference points for state employment. Disabled veterans receive 10 preference points.
Military members and their families receive expedited processing for occupational licenses, along with credit for military training that is relevant to the occupational license/registration.
Idaho residents on active, reserve or National Guard duty do not have to pay professional or occupational license or renewal fees while in the military. Service members holding an occupational or professional license will have that license's expiration date extended until six months after they leave the service.
Military Spouse Employment
Surviving spouses who have not remarried may receive the same preference points for state hiring as the veteran.
Idaho expedites the license applications of military spouses.
Idaho Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Idaho's four state veterans homes are in Boise, Lewiston, Pocatello and Post Falls. Applicants:
- May be peacetime or wartime veterans. Wartime veterans receive priority for admission.
- Must have been discharged under honorable conditions.
- Must be Idaho residents.
- Must be unemployable as a result of age, illness or disability and must receive Medicaid benefits or must pay a monthly fee.
Homeless Veterans
No state benefits.
Adaptive Housing
No state benefits.
Idaho Veteran Financial Assistance
Idaho veterans discharged under honorable conditions and their dependents may receive up to a $1,500 grant in cases of extreme emergency. The veteran must have entered the military from Idaho or lived in the state for at least five years. The event or emergency must have occurred within 90 days of the request.
Idaho Veteran Legal Assistance
The Idaho Military Legal Alliance (IMLA) helps to coordinate pro bono legal services for Idaho's military population. IMLA provides legal education on military legal issues, supports military legal clinics and recruits pro bono attorneys.
Idaho Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident veterans with a 40% or greater VA disability rating receive the $5 Disabled American Veteran license, which provides reduced-fee tags for deer ($10.75), elk ($16.50), bear ($6.75) or turkey ($10.75). Permits for archery or muzzleloader are $3.75 each. Documentation of the disability is required for the first issuance of the disability license only.
The nonresident Disabled American Veteran hunting with three-day fishing license ($31.75) allows nonresident disabled veterans to buy reduced fee tags at higher rates than resident disabled veterans. The Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tag Program allows organizations to apply for big-game tags on behalf of a disabled veteran.
Parks/Camping
Idaho resident 100% service-connected disabled veterans receive free access and camping at Idaho state parks.
Idaho Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Idaho Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Idaho's two state veterans cemeteries are located in Blackfoot and Boise. There is no requirement to be a resident of Idaho.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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