Nevada Veteran Financial Benefits
Nevada Income Taxes: Nevada does not impose an individual income tax, meaning distributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are free from state taxation.
Nevada Wartime Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption: Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime may qualify for an annual property tax exemption. This benefit can be applied to either vehicle privilege taxes or real property taxes. For the 2022–2023 period, the exemption amount is $3,080.
Nevada Disabled Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption: Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rating of 60% or higher may be eligible for this exemption. The benefit amount depends on the disability percentage:
- 60%–79% disabled – $15,400 assessed value
- 80%–99% disabled – $23,100 assessed value
- 100% disabled – $30,800 assessed value
This exemption may be applied toward the following year’s real property tax bill or vehicle registration fees.
Sales Tax:
- Statewide rate: 4.6%
- Municipalities: may add up to 1.53%
- Current combined average rate (state + local): 8.265%
Recreation
Nevada Department of Wildlife Benefits for Service Members and Veterans
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) provides several special privileges for service members and veterans:
- $15 Specialty Combination Hunting & Fishing License for Nevada resident service members stationed outside the state. Applicants must present a military ID and proof of duty station when purchasing.
- $15 Specialty Combination Hunting & Fishing License for honorably discharged Nevada resident veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher. Applicants must show discharge papers and a VA disability rating letter.
- Big Game Tag Deferral or Refund for active-duty service members who are mobilized or deployed after drawing a big game tag. A deferral of up to two years or a refund is available.
- Resident Pricing for Nonresident Service Members – Active-duty service members and their families assigned to a permanent duty station in Nevada can buy hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates.
Nevada State Parks Annual Disabled Veteran Permit: Eligible disabled veterans can obtain a permit granting free entry to Nevada State Parks for vehicles they occupy, along with exemptions from camping and boating fees. Some fees still apply for reservations, special events, utility hookups, boat slip rentals, and cabin or yurt reservations. The permit is valid for one year and requires an annual administrative fee of $30.
Education Programs
Tuition Waiver for Nevada National Guard Service Members:
Nevada National Guard members are eligible for a waiver covering resident tuition and lab fees at state-supported educational institutions. This benefit does not apply to the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, or the UNLV School of Dental Medicine.
Tuition Waiver for Children and Surviving Spouses of Nevada National Guard Members Killed in the Line of Duty:
The children and surviving spouse of a Nevada National Guard member who died in the line of duty may receive a waiver for resident tuition and lab fees at state-supported schools (excluding the institutions listed above).
- Children may use the waiver for up to 10 years after turning 18, or 10 years from initial enrollment if they start before 18.
- Surviving spouses have up to 10 years from the date of the service member’s death to use the waiver.
Tuition Waiver for Families of Service Members Declared POW or MIA:
Children and spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members permanently stationed in Nevada who are declared Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) may qualify for this waiver. The same usage limits apply as above—10 years after turning 18 or initial enrollment for children, and 10 years from the POW/MIA designation for spouses. This waiver also excludes the law, medical, and dental schools mentioned earlier.
Nevada Tuition Waiver for Purple Heart Recipients:
Veterans awarded the Purple Heart are entitled to a waiver for tuition, lab fees, and other required fees at state-supported schools. Recipients are also granted residency status for tuition purposes.
In-State Tuition for Certain Nonresident Veterans and Active Duty Service Members:
- Veterans honorably discharged while stationed in Nevada (including the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickel Meadows, CA) qualify for in-state tuition.
- Nonresident veterans discharged within the past five years are charged in-state rates.
- Nonresident active-duty service members stationed in Nevada—and their spouses and children—also qualify for in-state tuition, as do those stationed at the Pickel Meadows training center.
- Spouses and children remain eligible after the service member is reassigned outside Nevada, provided they stay continuously enrolled.
Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Grants-in-Aid Tuition Assistance:
Provides tuition assistance to spouses and children of active-duty service members killed in the line of duty while stationed in Nevada. Also available to service members, their spouses, and children when assigned to an ROTC detachment at a Nevada state-supported school. Grants require a minimum 2.0 GPA and do not cover lab or special course fees. The benefit excludes the William S. Boyd School of Law, the medical school, and the dental school.
Nevada Operation Recognition – Diplomas for Wartime Veterans:
Nevada school districts can award a high school diploma to veterans who left school early to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War (Sept. 16, 1940 – May 7, 1975). Eligible veterans must have attended a Nevada high school, received an honorable discharge, and served during those eras. Applications may be submitted by the veteran, their guardian, or a family member of a deceased eligible veteran.
Nevada Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3):
Designed to ease school transitions for children of military families due to frequent moves or deployments by:
- Ensuring quick enrollment and record transfers
- Standardizing placement, attendance, grading, and course requirements
- Protecting eligibility for extracurricular activities
- Supporting on-time graduation
- Coordinating between states, schools, and military families to promote flexibility and academic success
Nevada Purple Star Schools Program:
Recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional support for military-connected students. To qualify, schools must appoint a trained military family liaison, educate staff about the unique needs of military children, and provide a dedicated webpage with resources for these families. Schools receive a Purple Star designation to display on campus.
Housing – Veterans Homes in Nevada:
Nevada operates two State Veterans Homes that provide skilled nursing services in a comfortable, home-like setting. These facilities focus on preserving the dignity of eligible veterans and their family members while offering quality care.
Nevada State Veterans Home at Boulder City
Nevada State Veterans Home at Sparks
Eligibility for Care at the Nevada State Veterans Home:
Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
- Be the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran
- Be a Gold Star parent of a service member who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
Employment and Job Training – Veterans Preference
Nevada State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference:
Nevada grants hiring advantages for state positions to honorably discharged veterans, National Guard members, and eligible surviving spouses by adding points to passing scores on competitive or promotional exams:
- Veterans: +10 points
- Surviving spouse of an active-duty service member killed in the line of duty: +10 points
- Surviving spouse of a deceased veteran: +5 points
- Nevada National Guard members (with a recommendation letter from their commanding officer): +5 points
Federal Employment Veterans Hiring Preference:
Federal law provides hiring and retention advantages for veterans, especially those with disabilities or who served during specific periods or campaigns. Additional points are added to examination scores:
- 5-Point Preference: Granted to veterans who served:
- During a war, or
- April 28, 1952 – July 1, 1955, or
- More than 180 consecutive days (non-training) between Jan. 31, 1955, and Oct. 15, 1976, or
- During the Gulf War (Aug. 2, 1990 – Jan. 2, 1992), or
- More than 180 consecutive days (non-training) between Sept. 11, 2001, and Aug. 31, 2010, or
- In a qualifying campaign or expedition for which a medal was awarded (e.g., El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, Haiti).
- 10-Point Compensable Disability Preference (CP): For veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.
- 10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS): For veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.
- 10-Point Disability Preference (XP): For veterans with a current service-connected disability or who receive military/VA disability retirement or pension but don’t qualify under CP or CPS, and for Purple Heart recipients.
- 10-Point Derived Preference (XP): For eligible spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of certain veterans. May apply if the veteran is deceased, disabled, or otherwise disqualified from federal employment due to service-connected conditions.
Special rules apply for those who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980 (or began active duty on/after Oct. 14, 1982) and have not completed 24 months of continuous active duty, with exceptions for certain discharges.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA):
USERRA safeguards civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and reserve component members. It:
- Protects reemployment rights for up to five cumulative years of military service, with certain exceptions
- Requires reasonable disability accommodations
- Ensures return to the same job, seniority, pay, and benefits as if no military absence occurred
- Allows up to two years for recovery from service-related injuries before returning to work
- Protects health coverage for up to 24 months during military duty (may require paying up to 102% of premiums)
- Safeguards pension benefits during military service
Eligibility: Veterans, Reserve, and National Guard members leaving civilian jobs for training or active duty qualify. The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) assists with claims.
Nevada State Employee Military Leave and Differential Pay:
State employees in reserve components receive 15 paid working days per year for training or deployment. If their military pay is lower than their state salary, the state pays the difference for those days.
Nevada Employment Security Division – Veterans Employment Services:
Provides priority service and resources to help veterans and their spouses secure employment, including:
- Job search workshops
- Career counseling and assessments
- Labor market insights
- Training opportunities
Burials and Memorials
It’s important to record your wishes regarding burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone. Keep this documentation with your personal and medical records.
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors eligible veterans and their families by offering a dignified final resting place and a permanent memorial recognizing the veteran’s service to the nation.
Burial benefits include:
- Gravesite in any open national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- Perpetual care of the site
- Government-furnished headstone or marker
- Burial flag
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Possible burial allowance for qualifying veterans
- Equal honors for cremated remains, which may be interred or inurned
Spouse and dependent eligibility:
- Burial alongside the veteran in a national cemetery, with perpetual care
- Inscription of spouse’s or dependent’s name, birth date, and death date on the veteran’s headstone at no cost
- Eligibility even if the spouse or dependent passes away before the veteran
- Burial allowed in a different national cemetery from the veteran’s, if desired
National Cemeteries include:
Fernley: Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Boulder City: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Nevada VA Benefit Resources
Veterans in Nevada have access to a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers to support their benefits, healthcare, and service needs.
Nevada VA Regional Benefits Office
- Reno: Reno Regional Office
Nevada VA Medical Centers
- North Las Vegas: VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
- Reno: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System
Important Information for Nevada Veterans
If you’re applying for VA benefits for the first time, you’ll need to submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This document verifies your discharge status, full name, Social Security number, branch of service, and service dates. An honorable or general discharge qualifies you for most VA benefits.
Always store your discharge paperwork and medical records in a safe, secure, and accessible location—preferably one that protects against damage or tampering, such as a fireproof safe.
Eligibility for most VA benefits requires discharge from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty includes full-time service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, as well as service as a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A dishonorable discharge issued by a general court-martial generally bars eligibility for VA benefits. However, certain benefits may still be available to Veterans in prison, parolees, or those with multiple discharges under varying conditions. Contact your VA regional office for clarification in these cases.
Information current as of November 2023
Nevada Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans in Nevada with a VA disability rating of 90% or less may be entitled to additional benefits. Veterans Guardian offers free, no-obligation consultations to review your claim and help determine your eligibility for these benefits.
