Tennessee Veteran Financial Benefits
No State Income Tax
Tennessee does not collect a general state income tax, meaning residents are not required to file an individual state return. Retirement distributions, including those from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), are not taxed.
Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses
Qualifying disabled Veterans and their un-remarried surviving spouses may be eligible for property tax relief on their primary residence. Tax relief applies to the first $175,000 of the home’s market value. Applications can be submitted through the local County Trustee or city tax office.
Eligibility:
- Disabled Veterans must have received an honorable or general discharge and hold a qualifying VA service-connected disability rating, such as:
- Paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs and lower body
- Loss or loss of use of two or more limbs
- Legal blindness
- Total and permanent disability, or
- 100% permanent disability rating as a former POW
- Surviving Spouses must remain un-remarried and live in the property, which must be owned solely or jointly.
Tax-Free Motor Vehicle Sales for Service Members
Certain active-duty service members and members of the Tennessee National Guard or Reserves may purchase motor vehicles exempt from sales and use tax.
Eligibility:
- Active-duty personnel stationed in Tennessee (or on a base that extends into Tennessee)
- National Guard or Reserve members serving full-time in the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) program in Tennessee
- Guard or Reserve members called to active duty in a combat zone (applies from deployment orders until 90 days after return)
The exemption only applies if the vehicle is titled and registered in the service member’s name (individually or jointly with a spouse or lineal relative).
Vehicle Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans
Veterans with a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating, as well as former POWs who receive a VA grant for a specially adapted vehicle, are exempt from:
- Tennessee motor vehicle sales tax
- Registration fees
- Local motor vehicle privilege taxes
Sales Tax in Tennessee
- Statewide rate: 7.0%
- Counties may add up to 2.5%
- Average combined rate: 9.55%
Recreation
Tennessee Hunting and Fishing License Exemptions for Military Members on Leave:
Active-duty service members who are home on leave from the U.S. Armed Forces do not need to buy a hunting or fishing license while on leave. They must carry their official leave documents while engaging in hunting or fishing activities.
Resident Rates for Nonresident Military Personnel:
Nonresident service members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed on active duty in Tennessee, as well as their dependents under age 16 living with them, may purchase Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses at the same cost as residents.
Tennessee State Park Discounts for Veterans:
Veterans can receive reduced camping rates at Tennessee State Parks during the off-season (December 1 through February 28/29), with a 50% discount off standard nightly base rates (premium sites excluded). Reservations can be made up to one year in advance, except for holiday weeks, which are limited to 30 days prior to arrival.
On Veterans Day, Tennessee Veterans enjoy free access to state parks, including waived greens fees and one complimentary night of camping.
Additionally, Tennessee resident Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating receive a 50% discount on camping and cabin fees. Reservations must be booked within 30 days of the intended visit, and premium campsites are not included.
All Veterans must present valid proof of Tennessee residency, Veteran status, and service-connected disability rating (if applicable).
Education Programs
Tennessee Education and Training Benefits for Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Tennessee STRONG Act Tuition Assistance Program
The Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guard (STRONG) Act provides tuition reimbursement for eligible Tennessee National Guard members. This program covers:
- First bachelor’s degree
- First master’s degree
- Certificate or diploma from a vocational/technical school
The STRONG Act reimburses up to 100% of the in-state tuition rate (UT Knoxville benchmark) after factoring in federal tuition assistance, grants, scholarships, and other aid.
Program limits:
- Up to 120 undergraduate hours OR 40 graduate hours of funding
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be an active Tennessee National Guard member in good standing (not flagged)
- Cannot already hold a degree at the level being pursued
- Must attend a Tennessee TCAT, accredited community college, public university, or private school headquartered in Tennessee
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA for undergraduate studies or a 3.0 GPA for graduate studies
- Courses must apply toward degree completion
- Application packets must be submitted within 90 days of course completion
Early Class Registration for Veterans
Tennessee resident Veterans enrolled in public colleges or universities receive priority class registration—just like athletes, honor students, and students with disabilities.
Helping Heroes Education Grant
This grant provides:
- $1,000 per semester for Veterans enrolled in 12+ credit hours
- $500 per semester for those taking 6–11 credit hours
The grant is available for up to eight semesters or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever comes first. Funds are awarded first-come, first-served and are paid at the end of each semester.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Honorably discharged Veteran OR current service member
- Tennessee resident for at least one year before applying
- Must have earned one of the following after 9/11/2001:
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Enrolled at a participating Tennessee institution (two- or four-year)
- Must not hold a bachelor’s degree, be in default on loans, or owe a financial aid refund
- Must comply with federal drug-free rules and not be incarcerated
Application Deadlines:
- Fall: September 1
- Spring: February 1
- Summer: May 1
Applicants must also submit their DD214 to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)
Tennessee participates in MIC3 to support military families by:
- Streamlining enrollment and record transfers for military children
- Protecting placement in appropriate classes, extracurriculars, and activities
- Reducing barriers to graduation caused by frequent moves or deployments
- Promoting cooperation between schools, parents, and military communities
Purple Star School Award
This award honors Tennessee schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and families. To qualify, schools must:
- Appoint a trained military family liaison
- Ensure teachers understand the unique needs of military students
- Provide a dedicated webpage with resources for military families
Housing: Tennessee Veterans’ Homes
Tennessee operates five State Veterans’ Homes that deliver high-quality long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and therapy services. Each facility is designed with modern amenities and personalized care plans, along with daily activities that foster connection and camaraderie among Veterans in a comfortable, home-like environment. The dedicated staff at TSVH are specially trained to meet the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of those who served.
Tennessee State Veterans Home at Murfreesboro
Tennessee State Veterans Home at Humboldt
Tennessee State Veterans Home at Knoxville
Tennessee State Veterans Home at Clarksville
Eligibility for Care at a Tennessee State Veterans’ Home (TSVH)
To qualify for admission, Veterans must have an honorable discharge from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, require skilled nursing services, and satisfy at least one of the following conditions:
- Be a Tennessee resident at the time of admission
- Be born in Tennessee
- Have entered military service from Tennessee
- List a Tennessee address as their official Home of Record
- Have an immediate family caregiver who resides in Tennessee
Additionally, a Veteran’s spouse or Gold Star Parents may also be admitted, depending on space availability.
Employment and Job Training Benefits for Tennessee Veterans
Military Leave for Tennessee State Employees
Tennessee offers several types of military-related leave to support service members, Veterans, and their families:
- Leave for Military Duty – State employees serving in a reserve component are granted up to 20 days of paid military leave each calendar year.
- State Active Duty Leave – Tennessee National Guard members called to state active duty receive paid leave for the duration of service.
- Disabled Veterans’ Leave – State employees with a 30%+ service-connected disability rating may take up to 36 hours annually to attend medical appointments related to their condition.
- Military Exigency Leave – Available to spouses, children, or parents of service members called to active duty for overseas deployment.
- Military Caregiver Leave – Eligible family members of an injured or seriously ill service member may take up to 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period (after using available paid leave).
- Military Funeral Leave – Veteran employees may take up to four hours per day to participate in military funeral services (as an honor guard, pallbearer, or firing squad member).
- Partial Pay for Active Duty – Employees called to active duty in support of military operations (including post-9/11 campaigns) may receive special leave with partial pay for up to one year.
Tennessee State Veterans Hiring Preference
Veterans and certain spouses are given priority in state hiring and promotions, including:
- Guaranteed first-round interview if minimum job qualifications are met.
- Preference in hiring decisions when qualifications are equal.
- 60 months of service credit added toward seniority during layoffs or workforce reductions.
Eligible Applicants Include:
- Veterans with honorable discharge from federal active duty.
- Spouses of Veterans rated 100% permanently disabled.
- Un-remarried surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty.
Applicants must be Tennessee voters for at least two years and must provide proof of eligibility. If not selected, the agency must give written reasons within 30 days.
Federal Veterans’ Employment Preferences
Federal law provides Veterans with additional points in civil service hiring:
- 5-Point Preference – For Veterans who served during a war, Gulf War, OIF (2001–2010), or other qualifying periods.
- 10-Point Preference – For Veterans with service-connected disabilities, Purple Heart recipients, or certain surviving spouses/mothers.
- Derived Preference – Extends to spouses or surviving spouses of disabled/deceased Veterans under specific conditions.
These preferences can significantly improve hiring outcomes and retention rights during federal workforce reductions.
USERRA: Employment Rights for Service Members
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects civilian employment rights of service members and Veterans by ensuring:
- Reemployment Rights – Service members returning from duty are entitled to their prior job (or an equivalent) with the same seniority, pay, and benefits.
- Seniority Protection – Time spent in service counts toward retirement and seniority-based benefits.
- Health & Pension Coverage – Service members may continue employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months during service. Pension benefits remain protected.
- Disability Accommodations – Employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate service-connected disabilities.
- Five-Year Rule – Most service-related absences are protected for up to five years, with exceptions for extended activations or emergencies.
The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) enforces USERRA protections and assists with claims.
Burials and Memorials
It’s important to ensure your wishes regarding burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone are clearly documented and stored with your medical records and personal paperwork.
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors eligible Veterans and their loved ones by offering a dignified final resting place and a lasting tribute that reflects the Veteran’s service to the nation.
Burial benefits include a gravesite in any open national cemetery with available space, grave opening and closing, perpetual care, a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate—all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also qualify for a burial allowance. Cremated remains receive the same honor and treatment as casketed remains, with interment or inurnment provided in national cemeteries.
These benefits also extend to eligible spouses and dependents. They may be laid to rest alongside the Veteran, with perpetual care of the site provided. Their names and relevant birth and death dates are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no charge to the family. Spouses and qualified dependents remain eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran, and they do not need to be interred in the same cemetery as the Veteran.
National Cemeteries include:
Chattanooga: Chattanooga National Cemetery
Knoxville: Knoxville National Cemetery
Madison: Nashville National Cemetery
Memphis: Memphis National Cemetery
Mountain Home: Mountain Home National Cemetery
Tennessee VA Benefit Resources
Tennessee provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.
Tennessee VA Regional Benefits Office
- Nashville: Nashville Regional Office
Tennessee VA Medical Centers
- Memphis: Memphis VA Medical Center
- Mountain Home: James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Murfreesboro: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System – Alvin C. York (Murfreesboro) Campus
- Nashville: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System – Nashville Campus
Key Details on Tennessee Veteran Benefits
If you are a Veteran applying for VA benefits for the first time, you will need to provide a copy of your DD 214 (discharge document). This record verifies your discharge status, complete name, Social Security number, branch of service, and dates of service. Generally, an honorable or general discharge makes you eligible for most VA benefits.
Be sure to store your discharge paperwork and medical records in a secure location that is both accessible to you and your family and protected from damage or tampering—ideally in a safe.
Eligibility for most VA benefits depends on separation from active military duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty refers to full-time service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, as well as commissioned officers of the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Veterans discharged with a “Dishonorable” status resulting from bad conduct convictions in general courts-martial are generally barred from VA benefits. However, certain benefits may still be available to incarcerated Veterans or those on parole. VA regional offices can provide clarification for individuals with multiple discharges under differing conditions, as well as for those currently imprisoned or on parole.
Information current as of November 2023.
Tennessee Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans in Tennessee with a VA disability rating of 90% or below may qualify for extra benefits. Vital Veterans Consultants offers a free, no-obligation consultation to help review your claim. Our team can assess whether you may be entitled to a higher VA compensation rating and identify any additional benefits you could receive.
