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Georgia benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Georgia source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) can help you apply for them at no cost.
20 benefits from official sources1 not yet finalized1 where sources disagreeLast verified
How to read the labels:In effect confirmed on an official page. Not yet finalized announced or passed but not in force yet. Unverified — confirm with the agency we couldn't confirm it on an official page, so ask the agency.
Help from your state veterans office
GDVS veterans field service offices
In effect
GDVS field offices help veterans with VA claims and appeals and verify eligibility for state benefits. GDVS says no benefit is automatic: veterans must apply.
Who qualifies
Georgia veterans and families.
Amount or details
Free.
How to apply
Find a field office at veterans.georgia.gov/locations or call 404-656-2300.
Qualifying disabled veterans are exempt on their homestead up to the greater of $32,500 or the federal 38 U.S.C. 2102 indexed amount, which was $121,812 for 2025. The exemption covers state, county, municipal and school taxes. The unremarried surviving spouse or minor children keep it while they live in the home.
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged Georgia veterans rated 100% totally disabled, paid at 100% for individual unemployability, or receiving certain VA statutory awards (loss of use of feet or hands, or loss of sight).
Amount or details
$121,812 in 2025, adjusted each year. The 2026 figure is in gaps.
How to apply
File an Application for Homestead Exemption with the county tax officials.
Note
The DOR page still shows the 2025 amount. A 2026 DOR memo reportedly sets $126,526, but the copy (hosted by Fulton County) blocked fetching, so that figure is unverified.
“VA-rated less than 100 percent disabled but entitled as 100 percent rate due to unemployability”
Surviving spouse of service member killed in war
In effect
The unremarried surviving spouse of a service member killed in, or who died as a result of, a war or armed conflict gets a homestead exemption of $60,000 plus an indexed additional sum (O.C.G.A. 48-5-52.1).
“will be granted a homestead exemption from all ad valorem taxes for county, municipal and school purposes in the amount of $60,000 plus an additional sum”
Military retirees under 62 can exclude up to $17,500 of military retirement income, plus another $17,500 if they have more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income. Retirees aged 62 to 64 fall under the general $35,000 retirement exclusion, and those 65 and older under the $65,000 exclusion.
Who qualifies
Military retirees; each spouse qualifies separately.
Amount or details
Up to $17,500 or $35,000 (under 62).
How to apply
Claim using the Retirement and Military Retirement Income Exclusion Worksheet on the Georgia return.
“$17,500 of military retirement income can be excluded for taxpayers under 62 years of age and an additional $17,500 can be excluded for taxpayers with more than $17,500 of earned income in Georgia”
“Veterans ages 62 to 64 are eligible for Georgia's existing retirement income tax exemption for up to $35,000.”
HB 266 (2025): expanded military retirement exclusion from TY2027
Not yet finalized
Not final yet: Enacted in 2025; effective TY2027. The amounts come from the OPB fiscal note on substitute LC 50 1209S. The bill text PDF mixes struck and inserted language.
Expected effective date:
HB 266 is listed among the Governor's 2025 signed legislation. Per the OPB fiscal note, it raises the military retirement exclusion to $35,000 for all eligible taxpayers in TY2027, increases it $5,000 a year until it reaches $65,000, and extends it to taxpayers aged 62 to 64.
Who qualifies
Military retirees under 65.
Amount or details
$35,000 in TY2027, rising $5,000 a year to $65,000.
How to apply
Takes effect automatically for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
“The retirement income limit is raised to $35,000 for all taxpayers in TY 2027 and increases the”
Combat death income tax abatement and deployment filing extension
In effect
Service members who die from wounds, disease or injury received in a combat zone owe no Georgia income tax for the year of death or for prior years back to their first day in the combat zone. Combat-deployed personnel get until 180 days after deployment ends to file.
Vehicle ad valorem / title tax exemption (one vehicle)
In effect
Veterans who are 100% P&T service-connected, or rated unemployable and receiving certain statutory awards, are exempt from annual property tax or title tax on one vehicle. Purple Heart and Medal of Honor plate holders are also exempt.
Who qualifies
100% P&T, or IU with a statutory award; Purple Heart or Medal of Honor recipients.
“Veterans who qualify for the Purple Heart or Medal of Honor specialty license plates are also exempt.”
Free veteran specialty and Disabled Veteran plates
In effect
Honorably discharged veterans can get one Veteran, Woman Veteran, Retired, Commemorative Service or Military Medal plate with no registration, manufacturing or annual fee. A second plate costs a $25 manufacturing fee plus the annual fee. Disabled Veteran plates are free and available for up to 2 vehicles. Vehicles with DV plates can park in disability spaces and get full-service fuel at the self-service price.
Who qualifies
Georgia veterans discharged under honorable conditions (DV plates: 100% or IU, or statutory awards).
Amount or details
No fees for the first plate; DV plates free.
How to apply
Bring Form MV-9W and a DD-214 to the county tax office. For DV plates, call the DOR Special Tag Unit at 404-968-3880.
“Veterans may receive disabled veteran license plates for up to 2 motorcycles or vehicles.”
Sales tax exemption on VA-grant adapted vehicle
In effect
A disabled veteran who receives a VA grant to buy and adapt a vehicle pays no state sales tax on that vehicle. This applies to the original grant only.
Georgia's veteran driver's license or ID shows a U.S. flag and the word VETERAN, and it is free. Spouses of qualifying disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses can get a free honorary license.
Who qualifies
Georgia residents with an honorable or medical discharge, or National Guard members with active duty or 20 years of service.
Amount or details
Free.
How to apply
Bring the Member 4 copy of the DD-214, proof of residency and ID documents to a DDS office. Call 678-413-8400.
The HERO scholarship is for Georgia National Guard members and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones, and for their children and spouses.
Who qualifies
Guard and Reserve members with combat-zone service, and their children and spouses.
Amount or details
Award amounts are on GSFC's page; not captured here.
How to apply
Apply through GAfutures (Georgia Student Finance Commission).
“Georgia HERO Scholarship program provides educational scholarship assistance to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones”
State Approving Agency; WWII/Korea/Vietnam diplomas
In effect
GDVS is the State Approving Agency for GI Bill programs. Veterans whose high school was interrupted by service in WWII, Korea or Vietnam can get a diploma.
Who qualifies
GI Bill users; eligible war veterans.
Amount or details
Program approval; diploma.
How to apply
Contact the SAA at 404-656-2306. For a diploma, apply to the school district board.
Out-of-state tuition waiver for recently separated Veterans and GI Bill users (USG)
In effect
University System of Georgia schools waive out-of-state tuition for many military-connected students, including Veterans who enroll within 36 months of separation and intend to live in Georgia, students using VA education benefits who live in Georgia, and Choice Act “covered individuals.”
Who qualifies
Separated service members (and qualifying spouses and children) who enroll within 36 months of separation and show intent to make Georgia home; students using VA education benefits who physically live in Georgia; covered individuals under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c). Active-duty, Georgia National Guard and Reserve members also qualify.
Amount or details
Waiver of the out-of-state tuition differential (you pay in-state tuition). Board of Regents Policy 7.3.4.1.
How to apply
Submit the school's out-of-state tuition waiver application for military and qualifying federal service with supporting documents (for example, a DD-214) to your USG school's registrar.
Wartime veterans seeking State of Georgia jobs get 5 points. Veterans rated 10% or more, certain spouses and unremarried widows or widowers get 10 points.
Veterans honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005 with 90+ days of active federal duty get a free one-year full sportsman's license, issued once. Resident veterans get 20% off the Adult Lifetime Sportsman's License. P&T-disabled veterans can buy a steeply discounted 3-year disability sportsman's license.
“A One Time Veterans License is available free to Georgia resident military veterans who served on active Federal duty for 90 or more days and were honorably discharged on July 1, 2005, or later.”
“Georgia Adult Lifetime Sportsman’s License at a 20% discount”
25% state park entrance fee reduction (disabled veterans)
In effect
Honorably discharged Georgia veterans with any VA service-connected disability rating get 25% off entrance fees at state parks, historic sites and recreation areas.
Who qualifies
Honorable discharge plus a service-connected disability rating.
Amount or details
25% off; a discount card is mailed.
How to apply
Bring the DD-214, disability verification and proof of residency to a GDVS field office.
Georgia War Veterans Homes (Augusta, Milledgeville)
In effect
GDVS runs two skilled nursing homes, in Augusta and Milledgeville. A nominal daily fee applies. For veterans rated 70% or higher, or admitted for a service-connected condition, VA pays the full fee.
Who qualifies
Eligible war veterans (see GDVS eligibility criteria).
Amount or details
Nominal daily fee; free at 70%+ or for a service-connected admission.
Veterans rated 10% or more are exempt for ten years from local occupation taxes, administrative fees and regulatory fees for running a business or practicing a profession.
Who qualifies
Honorable discharge; service-connected rating of 10% or more.
Amount or details
10-year exemption.
How to apply
Take VS Form 40-025, ID, DD-214 and the VA benefits letter to the county Probate Court.
“exemption from any occupation tax, administrative fee, or regulatory fee imposed by local governments for peddling, conducting business, or practicing a profession or semi-profession for a period of ten years”
We only publish what we could confirm on an official Georgia source. These are the open questions from our latest review. Ask the Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) about anything here.
The 2026 disabled veteran homestead amount ($126,526 per the search result for a DOR memo) is unverified.
The GA HERO award amount was not captured from the official page.
The 2026 GDVS Veterans Resource Guide PDF (31.5 MB) was not parsed. The HTML benefits book was used instead.
Pending 2026 Georgia legislation other than HB 266 was not researched.
This state page was last reviewed against official sources on November 1, 2026. Our watcher re-checks those pages automatically and flags any item whose quoted wording disappears.