The state of Maryland provides several veteran benefits. We describe them on this page.
Maryland Veterans Home
Maryland's veterans home in Charlotte Hall is open to honorably discharged Maryland resident veterans 62 and over. Those disabled and unable to work are also eligible. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs per diem payments lower the cost of care.
Maryland Veteran Financial Benefits
Property Tax Exemption
Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from service-connected causes are exempt from property tax on their primary residence.
Upon the veteran's death, the exemption passes to their spouse. The surviving spouse of active-duty military personnel who died in the line of duty as well as the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran, or a spouse who receives Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, may also receive an exemption.
Income Tax
Up to $15,000 of military pay may is tax-free if earned while serving overseas. However, if you earned more than $30,000 in military pay, you are not eligible for this deduction.
Up to $12,500 in retired military pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax-free starting with the 2023 tax year. After age 55, this increases to $20,000.
Pension Tax Exclusion
If you are 65 or older, totally disabled, or your spouse is totally disabled, you may qualify for Maryland’s calendar year 2022 maximum pension exclusion of $34,300 based on Instruction 13 of the Maryland resident tax booklet. If you’re eligible, you may be able to subtract some of your taxable pension and retirement annuity income from your federal adjusted gross income. This subtraction applies only if you were 65 or older or totally disabled, or your spouse was totally disabled.
Vessel Excise Tax
Active-duty military personnel are exempt from the 5% vessel excise tax for one year. This is only for vessels purchased out of state and brought into Maryland due to a permanent change of station.
Maryland Veteran Employment Benefits
State Employment Veterans Preference
The appointing authority for skilled and professional appointments will award a credit of 10 points on any selection test to an eligible veteran, the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran.
A credit of two additional points will be given to any veteran with a service-connected disability.
CDL License
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration will waive the commercial driver's license class A & B skills test requirements for veterans within 12 months of their discharge if they had those qualifications in the service.
Maryland Veteran Recreation Benefits
Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
A free lifetime hunting license is available to Maryland residents certified as a former prisoners of as well as to 100% service-connected disabled veterans. The lifetime license includes the bow stamp, muzzleloader stamp, and furbearer permit. The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp is not part of the Complimentary License.
A free lifetime fishing license is available to Maryland residents certified as former POWs or 100% service-connected disabled veterans. The license incorporates both the non-tidal angler's license and the Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license. It does not, however, include the trout stamp.
Active-Duty Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Maryland residents on active duty and home on leave do not need to purchase a hunting or fishing license.
Non-residents stationed in Maryland can buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Admission to State Parks
All entrance charges to Maryland state parks are waived for all veterans, both resident and nonresident, as well as all active-duty personnel. The waiver is applicable to the veteran only and not others in the same vehicle, unless a per-vehicle charge is in effect at the time. In that case, the per-vehicle fee is waived.
Maryland State Veterans Cemetery
Maryland has five state veterans cemeteries. The cemeteries are in Cheltenham, Crownsville, Flintstone, Hurlock, and Owings Mills. A burial plot is provided to eligible veterans and their eligible dependents when the veteran is a resident of the State of Maryland and has received an honorable discharge.
Plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is no cost to the veteran for burial plot, opening/closing, headstone and state liner (if used). Eligible dependents have a minimal opening/closing cost and a direct cost for state liner (if used).
Visit the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
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