Arizona Veteran Benefits

All military retired pay is exempt from Arizona income taxes.

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not subject to Arizona income taxes.

Income earned in Arizona by a nonresident spouse of a nonresident active duty service member is not taxed in Arizona if all the following apply:

The property of a resident disabled Veteran who ha s a service- or non-service - connected total and permanent disability rating from the VA are eligible for a complete property tax exemption.

Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits.

Eligible Veterans and their dependents can be granted immediate residency, making them eligible for in-state tuition rates when using VA educational benefits.

Any student who is using VA educational benefits at an Arizona community college, college or university is eligible for a deferment of payment of tuition, fees, required books and materials for up to 120 days, with no interest.

Arizona offers tuition waivers at public educational institutions for eligible Veterans, service members and their family members.

STR is a tuition reimbursement program available to eligible Arizona National Guard Service members for education programs to support their professional and personal self-development goals. STR will pay up to $250 per semester hour not to exceed $5250 per state fiscal year.

Arizona's Honorary Diploma program will provide high school diplomas to eligible Veterans who left high school before graduating to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.

The Arizona Department of Education offers an initial education certification fee waiver to Veterans who separated from the U.S. Armed Forces in the past two years and active duty military spouses.

UI provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI is a partial, short-term replacement of lost wages while workers are seeking other work and is not intended to be a permanent source of income. Benefits are not based on financial need.

Arizona offers deployed service members a one year exemption on vehicle license tax and registration fees, once per deployment for up to two vehicles. This exemption can be claimed during the deployment and for up to one year after the service member redeploys or is released from active duty.

Veterans who are 100% disabled and receiving compensation from the VA are eligible for a vehicle license tax and registration fee exemption for one vehicle they own or co-own.

Veterans who receive financial assistance from the VA to purchase a specially adapted vehicle to accommodate their disabilities are exempt from vehicle license tax and registration fee.

Nonresident active duty service members stationed in Arizona are not required to pay the vehicle license tax portion of the annual vehicle registration.

Arizona MFRF provides financial assistance to activeduty service members, Veterans, and their families for unforeseen financial hardships caused by the service member's or Veteran's military service.

Arizona State Parks offer several discounts to resident service members and Veterans. Discounts apply to the individual eligible and up to three accompanying adults.

Arizona offers Veterans preference to applicants who test for Arizona public employment. Preference is given by adding points to passing scores on employment exams. Who is eligible for Arizona State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference? Points are added to the following applicants scores:

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

Arizona DES Offices have dedicated staff who provide individualized career and training-related services to Veterans and "covered persons" with significant barriers to employment. They provide case management to remove barriers to help Veterans become job-ready and find gainful employment.

The Arizona Hilton Honors Military Program helps make the career transition from service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian employment easier for current and former service members. The Hilton Honors Military Program provides hotel accommodation for required employment related travel.

The Gold Card initiative provides unemployed post-9/11 era Veterans with employment assistance and follow-up services at Arizona CareerOneStop, American Job Centers .

The ADVS Veteran Tool Kit Program was created to help unemployed Veterans get the supplies needed to start working.

The Arizona TTE program is a free service to help active duty service members, reserve component service members, Veterans and their spouses complete the certification process to begin a new career in education.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan, available worldwide for Selected Reserve, (U.S. Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard service members) and their families who meet the following qualifications:

Arizona Veterans Court is a collaborative process that includes the prosecutor, defense counsel, Judge, the VA, the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, and other community-based support organizations.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains two national cemeteries in Arizona. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

Arizonaoffers a Veteran Designation on Arizona driver licenses, instruction permits, commercial driver lice nses and learners permits , and ID cards for active duty service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans who received a discharge other than dishonorable.

The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (AZ MVD) offers 26 distinctive license plate s to honor the service and sacrifice of service members, Veterans, retired service members and eligible family members.

The Arizona driver license of a resident service member and their immediate family members remains valid until six months after discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

Service members who have an Arizona driver license who are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are exempt from the requirement to update their photo and pass a vision test every 12 years.

Arizona residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed out of state may renew their vehicle registration online at the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, Online Vehicle Registration Renewal webpage , or by mail to:

Arizona offers a CDL Skills Test Waiver to service members and former service members based on their military training and experience.

Service members who have an Arizona driver license and are stationed outside Arizona can add a motorcycle endorsement by mail.

The Arizona Gold Star Military Medal is awarded to the family of an Arizona Service member who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in Arizona enter Arizona in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.