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Mississippi benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Mississippi source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the Mississippi Veterans Affairs (MSVA) can help you apply for them at no cost.
16 benefits from official sources1 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
Mississippi Veterans Affairs and Veterans Benefits Specialists
In effect
MSVA's main office is in the War Memorial Building in Jackson. Its Veterans Benefits Specialists work out of district offices, university campuses and VA medical centers.
Who qualifies
Mississippi veterans and families.
Amount or details
Main office (601) 576-4850. 120 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39201.
How to apply
Call the main office or contact the nearest Veterans Benefits Specialist listed on the service officers page.
Total homestead exemption for veterans with a total service-connected disability
In effect
Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected total disability are exempt from all property taxes on their homestead. Their unremarried surviving spouses also qualify.
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability, or the unremarried surviving spouse. Unremarried surviving spouses of service members killed on active duty also qualify.
Amount or details
Exempt from all ad valorem taxes on the homestead (DOR Tier 3). Miss. Code Ann. 27-33-75 and 27-33-67.
How to apply
Apply at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1.
“Applicants classified as service-connected, total disability as an American veteran who has been honorably discharged from military service and their unremarried surviving spouses.”
“Homestead Exemption Applications are only accepted in the county Tax Assessor's office during normal business hours between January 1 and April 1 of each year.”
“Any Veteran having a service-connected total disability, who has been honorably discharged from military service shall be exempt from all Ad Valorem taxes on the assessed value of homestead property”
HB 420 (2026): total homestead exemption for veterans aged 85 and older
In effect
HB 420 of 2026 amends Section 27-33-75 so that honorably discharged veterans who are 85 or older by January 1 get a full homestead exemption. Unremarried surviving spouses also qualify. Before this law, DOR's Tier 3 required age 90.
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veteran aged 85 or older on or before January 1 of the year claimed, or the unremarried surviving spouse.
Amount or details
Exempt from all ad valorem taxes on the homestead.
How to apply
Apply at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1.
Effective
Note
Signed 3/20/26, effective 7/1/26. The DOR homestead page reviewed still says 90 years old, so DOR hasn't updated it yet. The first tax year affected is not stated; counties will likely apply it to 2027 filings.
“has reached 85 years of age on or before January 1 of the year for which homestead exemption is claimed shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes”
“Applicants who are honorably discharged American veterans at least 90 years old on or before January 1 of the year in which exemption is claimed, and their unremarried surviving spouses.”
Retirement income (including military retirement) and VA payments are not taxed
In effect
Retirement income, pensions and annuities generally aren't subject to Mississippi income tax if the recipient met the plan's requirements. VA payments are also exempt.
Who qualifies
Recipients of qualified retirement income, including military retired pay, and VA benefits.
Amount or details
Qualified retirement income and VA payments are fully exempt. Separately, the first $15,000 of Guard or Reserve pay is excluded.
How to apply
Applied automatically when you file your Mississippi income tax return.
“Generally, retirement income, pensions and annuities are not subject to Mississippi Income tax if the recipient has met the retirement plan requirements.”
“Mississippi does not tax benefits received from U.S. Social Security, Railroad Retirement Public Welfare assistance, Veterans' Administration payments or workers' compensation.”
Veterans rated 100% permanent and total, or 100% individual unemployability (IU) evaluated as P&T, can buy vehicle tags for $1 total each year. Unmarried surviving spouses also qualify. A $1 motorcycle tag is available as well.
Who qualifies
Mississippi resident veteran with a 100% P&T service-connected rating, or 100% IU evaluated as P&T, or the unmarried surviving spouse.
Amount or details
$1.00 total cost per plate. Miss. Code Ann. 27-19-53.
How to apply
Apply at the county tax collector in your county of residence.
“is privileged to purchase annually one (2) motor vehicle license plate or tag for a private passenger motor vehicle or pickup truck in his or her county of residence for the sum of one dollar ($1.00) in total cost.”
Veteran and Combat Veteran specialty plates (Space Force added 2026)
In effect
Branch-seal plates say VETERAN or COMBAT VETERAN, and part of each sale goes to the state veterans homes and cemeteries. A 2026 law added Space Force veteran plates at the $30 special tag fee.
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans.
Amount or details
$30 special tag fee, of which $24 goes to the MS Veterans Affairs Board fund.
How to apply
Apply at your local tax collector's office.
Note
The Space Force plate comes from the 2026 Legislature's summary of the special tag bill. The bill's effective date is not shown in the excerpt quoted here.
Veterans can add a "VET" designation to their license or ID by showing a DD-214 or one of the other listed documents at a Driver Service Bureau station.
Who qualifies
Veterans with a DD-214, retiree ID, VA medical or ID card, or NGB-22.
Amount or details
No extra fee for the designation is stated; normal license or ID fees apply.
How to apply
Bring the document in person to any Driver Service Bureau station. An appointment is recommended.
In-state tuition for veterans; POW/MIA children's scholarship
In effect
Any veteran, or anyone entitled to Title 38 education benefits, is charged in-state tuition. Children of POW/MIA service members get an eight-semester tuition-free scholarship at state schools.
Who qualifies
Title 38 veterans and beneficiaries; children of Mississippi POW/MIA service members.
Amount or details
In-state tuition (37-103-25). Eight semesters of tuition, not counting books and fees (37-108-1).
How to apply
Apply through the school's admissions or veterans office. For GI Bill program approval, contact the MSVA State Approving Agency at (601) 576-4867.
“Any Veteran, as defined by Title 38 of the United States Code, or a person entitled to education benefits under Title 38 of the United States Code is authorized in-state tuition.”
State hiring preference: veterans ranked at top of eligible lists
In effect
On State Personnel Board eligible lists, disabled veterans and veterans are placed at the top, with disabled veterans first. Under SB 2863 (2019), Purple Heart recipients count as disabled veterans.
Who qualifies
Veterans and disabled veterans applying for state service jobs.
Amount or details
Listed at the top of the eligible list, not given points.
How to apply
Indicate veteran status on your MSPB application (it is required).
“When an agency receives a list of eligible applicants, disabled veterans and veterans are listed at the top of the list with disabled veterans listed before veterans.”
Veterans' Home Purchase Board mortgage loans (up to $500,000)
In effect
VHPB makes and services VA-backed home loans for Mississippi veterans at fixed rates, typically 1-2 points below market. Loans can be up to $500,000 at 100% loan-to-value.
Who qualifies
Veterans who were Mississippi residents before entering service or who have lived in the state 2 straight years; Guard/Reserve with 6+ years; active duty; certain unmarried surviving spouses.
Amount or details
Maximum $500,000. Posted rates are 4.50% (0-15 years) and 5.00% (16-30 years). The 2024-2025 guidebook's $300,000 figure is out of date.
“Reserve and National Guard personnel who have 6 years of service or more are eligible to apply for a loan.”
Concealed weapon permit fee waiver and free vital records
In effect
Veterans with a service-connected disability pay no concealed weapon permit or renewal fees. Vital Statistics and county clerks provide records needed for VA claims at no charge.
Who qualifies
Veterans with a service-connected disability (permit fees); resident veterans or their claimants (records).
Amount or details
Permit fees waived (45-9-101). Free records (35-3-9, 35-3-11, 35-3-13).
How to apply
Apply for the permit through DPS; request records from Vital Statistics or the chancery or circuit clerk.
“Chancery Clerks shall record, without cost whatsoever to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States residing in the same county, all honorable discharges”
“100% service-connected disabled by the Veterans Administration or Railroad Retirement Board are NOT required to purchase a hunting or fishing license”
Five State Veterans Homes, including the new Tradition home in Biloxi
In effect
MSVA runs homes in Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko and Oxford, and has added a fifth at Tradition in Biloxi. Residents rated 70% or higher, or 100% IU, pay no daily charge.
Who qualifies
Veterans not dishonorably discharged, or the spouse of a resident veteran, who are or were Mississippi residents and pass a medical exam within 30 days of admission.
Veterans Memorial Cemeteries at Newton and Kilmichael
In effect
MSVA runs two Veterans Memorial Cemeteries. Since July 1, 2024, the Burial Equity Act lets certain Guard members and Reservists be buried there if they pay the costs.
Who qualifies
Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, plus eligible spouses and dependents. Under the Burial Equity Act, certain Guard and Reserve members also qualify, with costs paid.
PLUS Act (HB 1076, 2026): limits on paid veterans-benefits claim help
In effect
Starting July 1, 2026, Mississippi bans referral fees and up-front fees for help with VA claims. Paid claim help requires a written agreement, and providers can't use a veteran's login credentials.
Who qualifies
Anyone paying for help with a veterans' benefits claim.
Amount or details
Free help remains available from MSVA Veterans Benefits Specialists.
“No initial or nonrefundable fee may be charged by a person advising, assisting, or consulting an individual on a veterans' benefit matter.”
2026 session: Guard TRICARE premium reimbursement (SB 2018) and Combat Injuries Day (HB 1403)
In effect
SB 2018 created a program that reimburses drilling Mississippi Guard members for TRICARE Reserve Select premiums, subject to appropriation. HB 1403 made February 13 "Veterans with Combat Injuries Day."
Who qualifies
SB 2018: actively drilling Mississippi Guard members who are eligible for TRICARE Reserve Select and not insured through another employer.
Amount or details
Reimburses premiums at the TRICARE Reserve Select member-only rate.
How to apply
Apply through the Mississippi Military Department once rules are issued.
Effective
Note
Both laws took effect on passage (signed 3/13/26 and 2/17/26). SB 2018 depends on appropriation and Adjutant General rules, and its first report is due December 1, 2026.
We only publish what we could confirm on an official Mississippi source. These are the open questions from our latest review. Ask the Mississippi Veterans Affairs (MSVA) about anything here.
MSVA Benefits Guidebook 2024-2025 is the newest edition online, and parts of its text are garbled (font encoding), so it was quoted only for the 70% no-daily-charge rule. Its VHPB $300,000 figure is superseded by $500,000 on vhpb.ms.gov.
DOR homestead page still lists age 90 for the veteran age exemption; HB 420 (eff. 7/1/26) lowers it to 85.
Employer tax credit for hiring veterans (listed in guidebook TOC) not verified: guidebook text garbled and DOR page not located.
No state park veteran discount confirmed or ruled out (MDWFP parks fee page not checked).
FONSI page (msva.ms.gov/fonsi) only links the EA/FONSI PDFs, which were not parsed; any additional planned home beyond Tradition is unverified.
Space Force plate bill number and effective date not captured; only the session summary was used.
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.