Florida Veteran Financial Benefits
Florida Income Taxes: Florida does not impose a personal income tax. As a result, withdrawals from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are not subject to state income tax.
Property Tax Exemptions and Reductions for Florida Service Members, Disabled Veterans, and Surviving Spouses:
Florida offers multiple property tax relief options for qualifying residents, including active Service members, honorably discharged disabled Veterans, and unremarried Surviving Spouses. Applications for these exemptions must be submitted through the local Property Appraiser’s office.
Combat-Disabled Veterans (10% or Greater) Property Tax Discount:
Veterans who have a VA-certified, combat-related disability rating of 10% or more may receive a property tax discount of up to $5,000 on their primary residence. The amount of the discount aligns with the Veteran’s disability percentage. Surviving spouses can maintain this benefit as long as they remain unmarried. If the property is sold, they may carry the discount forward, but only up to the amount previously granted.
Full Property Tax Exemption for Permanently and Totally Disabled or Wheelchair-Bound Veterans:
Veterans with a service-connected total and permanent disability or those confined to a wheelchair are eligible for a full homestead property tax exemption. This benefit may transfer to an unremarried Surviving Spouse. Should the spouse sell the property, the exemption is limited to the previously approved amount.
Property Tax Discount for Disabled Veterans Aged 65 and Over:
Veterans aged 65 or older who have a service-connected permanent partial disability can qualify for a homestead assessed value reduction that matches their VA disability rating. This reduction can also apply to their unremarried Surviving Spouse, with the same carryover limitations on property sale.
Deployed Military Property Tax Exemption:
Active-duty Service members deployed outside the U.S. in the previous calendar year, in support of a recognized military operation, may be eligible for a partial homestead property tax exemption. The exempted value is based on the percentage of time deployed during the year.
Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Service Members Killed in Action:
The unremarried Surviving spouse of a Florida resident who died in the line of duty is entitled to a full homestead property tax exemption. Applicants can submit before receiving official documentation from the VA or U.S. Government; the exemption will be applied retroactively once documentation is received. If the Service member is unable to file, their next of kin may apply on their behalf.
Local Business Tax Waiver for Veterans, Spouses, and Active Service Members:
Qualified Veterans, their Spouses or Surviving Spouses, and Spouses of active-duty personnel stationed in Florida may receive a waiver from local business taxes and fees governed by Chapter 205 of the Florida Statutes.
Sales Tax in Florida:
- State Base Rate: 6.0%
- Local Option Rate: Up to 2.0% additional
- Current Average (State + Local): Approximately 7.02%
Recreation
Florida provides a range of hunting and fishing license benefits to Veterans and Service members:
Disabled Resident Hunting and Fishing License (Free):
Qualified Florida resident Veterans with disabilities can receive a complimentary license that covers:
- Saltwater and freshwater fishing
- General hunting privileges
- Deer hunting
- Wildlife Management Area access
- Archery, muzzleloader, and crossbow seasons
- Turkey and Florida waterfowl hunting
- Snook and lobster permits
Military Gold Sportsman’s License:
Active duty and retired Service members may purchase the Military Gold Sportsman’s License at a discounted rate of $20. This license excludes certain special permits, such as tarpon tags, alligator trapping, limited-entry hunts, federal duck stamps, and migratory bird permits.
Resident Rates for Nonresident Service Members and Families:
Active duty military personnel assigned to Florida from out of state are allowed to purchase Florida hunting and fishing licenses at the same rate as residents. This benefit extends to spouses and dependent children living in the same home. Applicants must provide military orders that show they are stationed in Florida.
License Exemption for Service Members on Leave:
Florida residents serving in the military who are temporarily home on leave for 30 days or fewer, and stationed outside the state, do not need a hunting or fishing license. They must carry valid military ID and leave documentation while participating.
Event License Exemptions for Veterans and Military Families:
Organizations hosting recreational hunting or fishing events for Disabled Veterans, active Service members, and their families can request an exemption permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those participating in these events are not required to have a Florida recreational license or permit during the activity.
Florida State Park Annual Entrance Pass Discounts:
Active and former military personnel, including honorably discharged Veterans and Surviving Spouses of Service members who died in combat, are eligible for reduced-rate Annual Entrance Passes to Florida State Parks. These passes allow entry to state parks but may not include additional local or activity-related fees. A valid photo ID must be shown by the pass holder when entering.
Discount Levels:
- 25% off for active duty, reserve, and honorably discharged Veterans
- Free lifetime pass for Veterans with service-connected disabilities
- Free lifetime pass for Surviving Spouses and Gold Star parents
Operation Outdoor Freedom:
This initiative offers outdoor recreational and therapeutic experiences to eligible Veterans at no cost, held on public and private lands throughout Florida.
Education Programs
Educational Support for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families in the Florida College System (FCS):
The Florida College System (FCS) offers a range of education-related benefits to Veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their eligible dependents who wish to pursue higher learning. Qualified individuals may choose one military education benefit at a time, selecting the option that best suits their academic goals. Notably, these programs come with no enrollment fees.
Veteran Tuition Waiver under Congressman C.W. Bill Young’s Program:
Through this initiative, FCS institutions are required to waive out-of-state tuition for honorably discharged Veterans who served in any active or reserve branch of the U.S. military. This enables Veterans to start their studies immediately, without having to wait a full year for residency qualifications.
Priority Enrollment Access:
Veterans and their dependents utilizing VA education benefits are granted priority registration at FCS colleges, ensuring they have first access to course scheduling.
In-State Residency for Military Families:
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents residing in Florida—or attending a public postsecondary school within a 50-mile radius of a military base—are granted in-state tuition status. This includes actively drilling members of the Florida National Guard. Furthermore, FCS institutions and career centers are mandated to waive out-of-state fees for active-duty members living or stationed outside Florida.
Credit for Military Education and Training:
FCS schools recognize the value of military experience and allow current and former service members to convert their military training and education into college credits, provided they were honorably discharged.
Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) Program:
EDD is a state-funded tuition aid initiative available to members of the Florida National Guard. It covers 100% of tuition at Florida public colleges and universities and up to the highest in-state rate for accredited private institutions. The program can be used for:
- Technical and vocational education
- Certificate and academic degree courses (associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees)
- Professional licensing and certification exams
EDD may also reimburse the cost of approved books and course materials.
CSDDV Scholarships (Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans):
The CSDDV program offers financial aid to children and spouses of Florida Veterans who either died in service, became 100% permanently disabled due to service, or are designated as POW/MIA. It covers full tuition and registration at participating institutions recognized by the Florida Department of Education, up to 110% of the credit hours required for the degree or certificate.
Tuition Waiver for Purple Heart and Combat Decoration Recipients:
FCS institutions waive tuition fees for Veterans and active-duty members who have earned the Purple Heart or higher combat-related awards. This benefit applies to degree or certificate programs and covers up to 110% of the required credits. However, it does not cover additional expenses such as housing, meals, or books.
High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans:
Veterans who left high school early to join the military and later received an honorable discharge are eligible for a standard high school diploma from the Florida Department of Education.
To qualify, the Veteran must:
- Have exited a public or private school in Florida before graduation to enlist
- Currently live in Florida, have been previously enrolled in a Florida high school, or have resided in Florida at the time of death
- Be honorably discharged
Family members may apply posthumously by submitting the appropriate application and discharge papers (e.g., DD214).
Interstate Compact for Military Children’s Education:
Florida participates in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, designed to reduce educational disruptions caused by frequent relocations or deployments. The compact aims to:
- Ensure quick enrollment and smooth records transfers
- Minimize barriers in placement, attendance, scheduling, and assessments
- Support eligibility for school programs and extracurriculars
- Facilitate on-time graduation
- Standardize data collection and information sharing among states, schools, and military families
- Align efforts with other compacts supporting military children
- Encourage cooperation between schools and military households to promote academic success
Florida Purple Star Schools of Distinction:
This program acknowledges schools that go above and beyond in serving military-connected students. To receive the Purple Star designation, a school must:
- Appoint a specially trained liaison to support military Families
- Educate staff on the unique needs of military-connected students
- Maintain a resource-rich section on the school website specifically for military Families
Housing: Below are the locations of residences designated for Veterans.
Florida State Veterans Home at Daytona Beach
Florida State Veterans Home at Land O’ Lakes
Florida State Veterans Home at Pembroke Pines
Florida State Veterans Home at Panama City
Florida State Veterans Home at Port Charlotte
Florida State Veterans Home at St. Augustine
Admission Requirements:
To qualify for entry into a Florida Veterans’ home, individuals must be honorably discharged Veterans, legal residents of Florida before admission, and must have a VA physician’s certification indicating the need for assisted living or skilled nursing services.
Jobs and Career Training: Preference for Veterans
Military Leave for Florida State Employees:
Florida public employees who serve in the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves are entitled to military leave for required training and active duty. They receive full pay for the first 30 days of leave, and all job-related benefits—such as seniority, performance ratings, promotions, and retirement rights—remain protected throughout their absence.
Service-Disabled Veteran Business Preference:
Under the Florida Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Opportunity Act, certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses receive procurement preference over non-veteran businesses when competing for equal contracts with state agencies.
Veterans’ Preference in Florida State Employment:
Florida extends hiring and promotion advantages to Veterans, eligible spouses, and Gold Star parents. Service members returning from deployment are given reemployment rights to the same or equivalent positions.
- Reemployment: Veterans returning from military service are guaranteed reinstatement to their prior role or a comparable one if they return within one year of discharge.
- Promotional Consideration: Veterans deployed under Title 10 who return to their previous state employer are eligible for one promotion opportunity per deployment. Training-only deployments don’t qualify.
Education Requirement Waiver:
Florida agencies may waive postsecondary degree requirements for qualified Veterans and Service members of the Florida National Guard or U.S. Reserves for state employment, provided they meet all other criteria.
Federal Veteran Hiring Preferences:
Federal law grants eligible Veterans preference for civil service jobs and retention during workforce reductions. Points are added to civil service exam scores based on service type and disability status:
- 5-Point Preference: Awarded to Veterans who served during wartime or specific service periods.
- 10-Point Preference (CP): For Veterans with a service-connected disability rating between 10% and 30%.
- 10-Point Preference (CPS): For Veterans rated at 30% or more disabled.
- 10-Point Disability (XP): For Veterans receiving military or VA disability compensation or who were awarded a Purple Heart.
- 10-Point Derived Preference (XP): Extended to spouses, surviving spouses, and certain parents of qualifying Veterans. Conditions apply.
Note: Certain enlistment dates may require 24 months of continuous service unless separation was due to a service-connected issue or under special circumstances.
USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act:
USERRA safeguards the employment rights of Service members and Reservists, ensuring they can return to civilian jobs with their benefits and seniority intact. Key protections include:
- Five-Year Reemployment Guarantee: Military absences are protected for up to five cumulative years, with exceptions for extended or emergency activations.
- Disability Accommodations: Employers must make reasonable accommodations for injured Veterans and may allow up to two years for recovery.
- Job Restoration: Returning Service members are reinstated into the position they would have attained, with full pay and seniority benefits.
- Training and Retraining: Employers must help Service members reintegrate through reasonable training if needed.
- Health and Pension Continuity: Service members can maintain employer-sponsored health plans for up to 24 months during military duty. Pension benefits are preserved as if uninterrupted.
USERRA Eligibility:
Applicable to any National Guard or Reserve member who leaves civilian employment for service. The Department of Labor’s VETS (Veterans’ Employment and Training Service) assists with claims, including for federal employees.
Florida Veterans’ Employment Program:
This initiative supports employment efforts for Florida Veterans, with a special emphasis on those facing employment barriers.
- Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP): Offers personalized career services to disabled Veterans or those with significant employment challenges.
- Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER): Partner with employers to create Veteran-focused hiring strategies and ensure that all Veterans benefit from priority services through CareerSource Florida centers.
Burials and Memorials
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors eligible Veterans and their families by offering a dignified final resting place and a permanent memorial to recognize the Veteran’s devoted service to the United States.
This benefit includes a burial plot at any open national cemetery with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, ongoing maintenance, a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate—all provided at no cost to the Veteran’s loved ones. Some Veterans may also qualify for a burial allowance. Cremated remains receive the same reverent treatment and are either inurned or interred within national cemeteries.
Eligible spouses and dependents may also be buried with the Veteran and receive perpetual care at the site. Their names, along with birth and death dates, are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no additional cost to the family. Notably, spouses and qualifying dependents may be interred even if they pass away before the Veteran and do not have to be laid to rest in the same cemetery.
National Cemeteries include:
Pensacola: Barrancas National Cemetery
St. Petersburg: Bay Pines National Cemetery
Mims: Cape Canaveral National Cemetery
Bushnell: Florida National Cemetery
Jacksonville: Florida National Cemetery
Sarasota: Florida National Cemetery
Lake Worth: South Florida National Cemetery
St. Augustine: South Florida National Cemetery
Tallahassee: South Florida National Cemetery
Connecticut VA Benefit Resources
Florida offers Veterans access to a Regional VA Benefits Office along with several VA Medical Centers across the state.
Florida VA Regional Benefits Office
- St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Regional Office
Florida VA Medical Centers
- Gainesville: Malcolm Randall VAMC, NF/SGVHS
- Lake City: Lake City VAMC, NF/SGVHS
- Miami: Miami VA Healthcare System
- Orlando: Orlando VA Medical Center
- Tampa: James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
- Tampa: James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Primary Care Annex
- West Palm Beach: West Palm Beach VAMC
Key Information Regarding Florida Veteran Benefits:
When applying for VA benefits in Florida for the first time, Veterans are required to submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (discharge papers). This document details your discharge classification, full name, Social Security number, branch of service, and the dates you served. Veterans with honorable or general discharges typically meet the qualifications for most VA benefits.
It is essential to store your discharge documents and medical records securely, in a location that is both protected and accessible to you and your family—such as a locked safe—to prevent loss or tampering.
Eligibility for most VA benefits is contingent upon a discharge from active duty that is not classified as dishonorable. Active duty refers to full-time service in branches such as the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, as well as commissioned officer roles in agencies like the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or NOAA.
Veterans with dishonorable discharges resulting from general court-martial convictions may be disqualified from receiving VA benefits. However, those currently incarcerated or on parole may still be entitled to specific VA benefits. Regional VA offices can provide guidance on the eligibility of Veterans with complex or multiple discharge statuses.
Information current as of October 2023.
Veteran Benefits in Florida
Florida Veterans with a VA disability rating of 90% or lower may qualify for extra benefits. Reach out to Vital Veterans Consultants for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Our team can evaluate your current claim to see if you’re eligible for more support or compensation.
