Pennsylvania · Property tax exemptions for veterans · Updated Oct 2026

Pennsylvania property tax exemptions for veterans (2026)

Every statewide property tax break for veterans in Pennsylvania that our guide lists, from disabled-veteran exemptions to breaks for surviving spouses. What each is worth, the VA rating it needs, the deadline and how to apply.

Short answer

The main property tax break for veterans in Pennsylvania is the Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption. 100% exemption from real estate tax on your home.

Worth
See the rules
VA rating
100% (or individual unemployability)
Income limit
Financial need: annual income of $114,637 or less is presumed to show need.
Deadline
None.

Property tax breaks for veterans in Pennsylvania

Disabled veterans

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

100% exemption from real estate tax on your home.

Who qualifies
Pennsylvania resident, honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions, who served during a period of war or armed conflict (as determined by the VA; some expeditionary medals also count), and who, because of that service, is blind, paraplegic, has lost two or more limbs, or has a 100% permanent service-connected disability or a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from the VA. You must own the home alone, with your spouse, or as tenants by the entirety, and live in it as your main home, and the State Veterans' Commission must find financial need. An unmarried surviving spouse keeps or gets the exemption if the Commission finds need.
Income limit
Financial need: annual income of $114,637 or less is presumed to show need. The State Veterans' Commission set this level on January 1, 2025; the law adjusts it every two years for inflation, so it is the level for 2026 and the next change is due January 1, 2027 (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(1)). With higher income you can still show need if your allowable expenses exceed your income.
How to apply
Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs, who helps you file the application. Bring your DD-214, VA rating letter, income proof and property deed.
Deadline
None. State law sets no filing deadline; you can apply at any time through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. The exemption starts once the State Veterans' Commission certifies need to your county assessment board (51 Pa.C.S. 8903).
Renewal
One-time approval, but the State Veterans' Commission must review every case of financial need at least once every five years (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(3)); report changes in income or ownership.
Law
51 Pa.C.S. 8901-8906

Source: official page

How to apply, step by step

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

  1. Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs, who helps you file the application.
  2. Bring your DD-214, VA rating letter, income proof and property deed.

Deadline: None. State law sets no filing deadline; you can apply at any time through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. The exemption starts once the State Veterans' Commission certifies need to your county assessment board (51 Pa.C.S. 8903).

Renewal: One-time approval, but the State Veterans' Commission must review every case of financial need at least once every five years (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(3)); report changes in income or ownership.

Savings estimate for Pennsylvania

None of these breaks is one fixed dollar amount taken off your home's value, so we can't estimate the savings here. What each one is worth is on its card above.

Eligibility finder for Pennsylvania

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Pre-set for veterans: you own and live in the home and are a veteran. Add your VA rating, and change any answer.

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Your combined service-connected rating. Leave empty if you have none.

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Pennsylvania

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

The checklist asks for no personal details and nothing is sent to our server: the files are made on your device.

Exemptions to include

Questions about veterans property tax breaks in Pennsylvania

Who qualifies for property tax breaks for veterans in Pennsylvania?

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: Pennsylvania resident, honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions, who served during a period of war or armed conflict (as determined by the VA; some expeditionary medals also count), and who, because of that service, is blind, paraplegic, has lost two or more limbs, or has a 100% permanent service-connected disability or a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from the VA. You must own the home alone, with your spouse, or as tenants by the entirety, and live in it as your main home, and the State Veterans' Commission must find financial need. An unmarried surviving spouse keeps or gets the exemption if the Commission finds need.

Is there an income limit for veterans' property tax breaks in Pennsylvania?

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: Financial need: annual income of $114,637 or less is presumed to show need. The State Veterans' Commission set this level on January 1, 2025; the law adjusts it every two years for inflation, so it is the level for 2026 and the next change is due January 1, 2027 (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(1)). With higher income you can still show need if your allowable expenses exceed your income.

When is the deadline for veterans to apply in Pennsylvania?

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: None. State law sets no filing deadline; you can apply at any time through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. The exemption starts once the State Veterans' Commission certifies need to your county assessment board (51 Pa.C.S. 8903).

Do veterans have to reapply every year in Pennsylvania?

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: One-time approval, but the State Veterans' Commission must review every case of financial need at least once every five years (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(3)); report changes in income or ownership.

Where do veterans apply for property tax breaks in Pennsylvania?

Your county assessment office takes applications for the homestead exclusion, and your school district (and in some places the county or city) sets how much it is worth. In Philadelphia, the city Department of Revenue runs the homestead exemption. Disabled veterans apply through their County Director of Veterans Affairs; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate is run by the PA Department of Revenue. For the Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs, who helps you file the application.

More for Pennsylvania homeowners

Veterans in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.