Alaska Veteran Benefits
Alaska does not impose a general individual income tax, so residents are not required to file a state tax return. Earnings from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are tax-exempt. Retirement income, military pension, VA military disability retirement, and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation are all not subject to state taxation.
Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) payouts are also untaxed due to the absence of a state income tax requirement.
Veterans in Alaska who have a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher are eligible for a property tax exemption on the first $150,000 of their primary residence’s assessed value. If the Veteran dies, the exemption can be transferred to a surviving Spouse aged 60 or older.
Sales Tax in Alaska:
- Statewide: None
- Local jurisdictions: May impose up to 7.5%
- Current average with local tax: Approximately 1.89%
Recreational Benefits for Veterans and Service Members in Alaska
Alaska Military and Veterans Hunting and Fishing Benefits:
Alaska provides unique hunting and fishing privileges for Veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Alaska National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves:
Resident service members actively serving in the Alaska National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves are eligible for complimentary annual hunting and fishing licenses.
Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans:
Disabled Veterans living in Alaska with a VA or military branch disability rating of 50% or higher may receive hunting and fishing licenses at no cost. Applicants must be physically present in Alaska to qualify. Licenses become invalid if the Veteran is no longer a resident.
Applications may be submitted online. Proof of eligibility, such as a VA Benefit Summary Letter, must be provided to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game via email (adfg.license@alaska.gov), fax (907-465-2440), or mail.
Discounted Licenses for Nonresident Service Members:
Nonresident active-duty personnel stationed in Alaska may buy hunting and fishing licenses at reduced rates.
Those stationed in Alaska for under 12 months may obtain a special military license at the resident rate. These service members and dependents must be accompanied by a licensed Alaskan guide or close relative when hunting brown/grizzly bears or Dall sheep.
After 12 months of stationing, they are eligible to purchase resident licenses without a guide requirement.
Free State Park Camping Passes for Disabled Veterans:
One free Alaska State Park Camping Pass is available to disabled Veterans. The 2023–2027 DAV pass is valid at all developed state park campgrounds.
Eligibility requires Alaska residency and a service-connected disability. Veterans must apply in person at Anchorage or Fairbanks Public Information Centers with valid proof. If in-person applications are not possible, Veterans may contact the centers directly.
Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Discount for Disabled Veterans:
AMHS provides a 50% fare discount to Veterans with a service-connected disability and, if medically necessary, their attendants. The discount applies only to passenger fares on AMHS vessels traveling between Alaska ports. It excludes vehicles, cabins, and meals.
Applications must include documentation of the service-connected disability and can be sent via email (dot.amhs.customer@alaska.gov), fax (907-465-8824), or mail.
Alaska Railroad Discount for Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members:
Veterans, retirees, active-duty personnel, and their dependents can receive a 20% discount from the Alaska Railroad. Riders must present valid ID as proof of eligibility when boarding.
Education Programs
Alaska National Guard Tuition Benefits: The Alaska National Guard covers up to the full cost of tuition and necessary fees at eligible educational, vocational, or technical institutions for qualified Guard members. Those serving may combine federal and state aid to reach complete coverage for tuition and approved fees within the University of Alaska System.
Eligible service members may earn only one credential at each level:
- Certificate or license
- Associate’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree
Free Tuition for Eligible Spouses and Dependents: Spouses or dependents of military members who were killed in the line of duty, died from related injuries, or are listed as POW or MIA may receive waived undergraduate tuition and fees at Alaska public institutions. They must remain in good academic standing.
In-State Tuition for Nonresident Service Members and Dependents: Active-duty military, National Guard members, Veterans using VA benefits, and their families may receive in-state tuition at University of Alaska System schools. Qualifying students must relocate to Alaska and maintain residency while enrolled.
Alaska Interstate Compact on Military Children’s Education: This compact aims to ease education transitions for military children by:
- Enabling smooth school enrollment and record transfers
- Supporting consistent class placement and credit transfers
- Easing access to extracurricular activities
- Helping ensure timely graduation
- Standardizing information sharing among states and schools
- Coordinating efforts with related education agreements
- Encouraging collaboration among schools, students, and families
High School Diplomas for WWII Veterans: The Alaska Department of Education offers diplomas to WWII Veterans—including Alaska Territorial Guard members—who served between August 7, 1940, and July 25, 1947. GED holders are eligible. Family members may apply on behalf of deceased or incapacitated Veterans.
To apply, email eed.tech@alaska.gov with:
- Veteran’s full name (as it should appear on the diploma)
- Dates of service
- Mailing address
- Applicant’s name
- Phone number
Purple Star School Program: This designation honors Alaska schools that support military-connected students. Awarded schools appoint a trained liaison and maintain an online resource page for military families.
Other Military and Veteran Benefits:
Alaska Guard and Naval Militia Retirement (NGNMRS): Retired members may receive $100 per month for each month of qualifying Alaska National Guard service. Alternatives include lump sum or accelerated payments by age 72. If a member dies on active duty with at least five years of service, their full benefit is paid to designated beneficiaries.
Eligibility requires 20 combined years of service (5 in Alaska Guard) across qualifying military branches. Involuntary discharge not due to misconduct waives the Alaska-specific requirement.
Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD): Legal Alaska residents may receive an annual dividend—$1,702 per person in 2024. Applications are accepted January 1 to March 31 each year.
Veteran’s Land Discount: Alaska resident Veterans may receive a one-time 25% discount on eligible state land purchases, excluding certain development costs.
Requirements:
- At least 18 years old
- Alaska resident for at least one year
- Served at least 90 days active duty (unless discharged early for disability or overseas separation)
- Honorable or General discharge
Documentation is only needed upon request and must include:
- DD214 showing qualifying service and discharge
- Proof of Alaska residency
- Notarized eligibility affidavit
Recording Separation Documents: Veterans may record certified separation forms (e.g., DD214, NGB 22) for free at any Alaska State Recorder’s office.
Requesting Military Records: Alaska VA holds DD214s for in-state Veterans who served since 1985. Requests for unavailable records can be made through the National Personnel Records Center.
Free Death Certificates: Up to four free copies of a Veteran’s Alaska death certificate are available to qualified requesters. Eligibility applies to those:
- Serving on active duty at time of death
- Formerly served honorably in active/reserve U.S. Armed Forces
Requesters must be:
- The Veteran’s estate representative
- A revocable trust trustee
- Someone needing the certificate to access death-related benefits
Veteran Mortgage Program & Interest Preference: AHFC offers lower interest mortgages with little or no down payment to eligible Veterans and service members. A 1% interest rate discount applies to the first $50,000 of a loan. Income limits apply.
Eligible applicants include:
- Service members who completed initial obligation
- Veterans with 90+ days of active duty (excluding training) and no dishonorable discharge*
- Reserve component Veterans with at least five years and an honorable discharge
- Surviving spouses of qualified Veterans
*Veterans must apply within 25 years of separation.
Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes
Admission Requirements for Alaska Veterans Services:
- Must have an honorable discharge
- Must be age 65 or older
- Must require assisted living support
- Must have lived in Alaska for at least one year prior to applying
- Spouses may qualify for services
- Costs are assessed on a per-diem basis
Alaska Military Service Credit for Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS):
Qualified former service members may purchase up to five years of PERS credit for prior U.S. Armed Forces service. This credit enhances monthly retirement benefit calculations but does not count toward retirement eligibility.
Cost: 8.5% of the member’s annualized vesting year salary per year of credit.
Who Qualifies:
- Honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces Veterans
- Vested PERS members, retirees, deferred vested members, and surviving spouses of PERS members
Not eligible if receiving federal credit for the same service (unless National Guard or Reserve member eligible for both).
Veterans’ Preference in Alaska State Employment:
Qualified Veterans and National Guard members receive employment preference for state jobs.
Scoring-Based Hiring:
- Veterans and Guard members: +5% of total score
- Disabled Veterans/former POWs: +10%
Non-Scoring Hiring:
- Veterans/Guard: given preference
- Disabled Veterans/POWs: granted an interview opportunity
Eligibility Includes:
- 181+ days active duty with honorable discharge
- Shorter service during specified periods with honorable discharge
- Service in Alaska Territorial Guard
- Current/former Reserve and Guard members
- Spouses and unremarried surviving spouses or children of qualifying Veterans or POWs (5% or 10% score increase)
Federal Veterans’ Hiring Preference:
5-Point Preference:
- Service during war or certain periods (e.g., 1952–1955, Gulf War)
- Campaign/expedition medal holders
10-Point Preferences:
- Compensable disability (10% to 30%+)
- Purple Heart recipients
- Spouses/mothers of qualified disabled Veterans
Eligibility caveat: Post-1980 enlistees must serve 24 months or full active-duty obligation unless separated for specific reasons (e.g., disability).
USERRA Protections (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act):
- Ensures job and benefits retention for reserve component service
- Reemployment protection up to 5 years of military absence
- Disability accommodations required
- Health and pension benefits extend up to 24 months
- Service members return to prior or equivalent positions with full seniority and pay
Eligibility:
- Veterans or reserve members leaving civilian jobs for service or training
- DOL VETS assists all eligible claimants
Alaska Veterans Employment Services:
Veterans and qualifying spouses receive job search priority, apprenticeships, and training aid through the Alaska Department of Labor.
Priority of Service Means:
- Faster access to resources
- Preferential access if resources are limited
Specialized Services Include:
- Skills assessment
- Employment plans and counseling
- Short-term skill-building in communication, interviewing, professionalism, etc.
Eligibility:
- Veterans with any active duty and other-than-dishonorable discharge
- Spouses of Veterans with 100% disability, MIA, POW, or those who died of a service-connected disability
Alaska State Employee Leave for Military Duty:
- 16.5 days paid leave annually for training, exercises, or search/rescue missions
- 5 days paid leave for governor-called duty
Eligibility:
- Reserve and National Guard members employed by the state
Reemployment After Military Service:
State employees returning from active duty must be restored to their previous job position.
Eligibility:
- Alaska National Guard or Reserve members in state employment
Burial and Memorial Information
It’s important to record your wishes for burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone, and to store this documentation with your personal and medical records. The State Veterans Cemetery follows the same eligibility criteria as the National Cemetery Administration.
National Cemeteries in Alaska:
- Fort Richardson: Fort Richardson National Cemetery
- Sitka: Sitka National Cemetery
Alaska VA Benefit Resources
Alaska offers Veterans access to a Regional Benefits Office along with a VA Medical Center.
Alaska VA Regional Benefits Office
- Anchorage: Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
Alaska VA Medical Centers
- Anchorage: Anchorage Memorial Veterans Center
Key details regarding Alaska Veteran Benefits:
Veterans submitting a VA benefits application for the first time must include a copy of their DD 214, which outlines discharge status, name, social security number, branch, and service dates. Most VA benefits are available to those with honorable or general discharges.
It’s essential to store your service documents and medical records securely in a place accessible to you and your family—ideally somewhere protected from loss or damage, like a safe.
Eligibility for the majority of VA benefits depends on being discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty includes full-time service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and commissioned roles in the Public Health Service, NOAA, or the Environmental Services Administration.
A dishonorable discharge resulting from a general court-martial may disqualify a Veteran from receiving VA benefits. However, some incarcerated Veterans and parolees might still qualify for certain services. For clarification, local VA regional offices can assess the eligibility of individuals with complex or multiple discharge records.
Alaska Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans in Alaska with a VA disability rating of 90% or lower may qualify for extra benefits. Reach out to Vital Veterans Consultants for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. We can evaluate your claim to see if you’re eligible for more support.
*Details are current as of June 2025.
