Utah Veteran Financial Benefits
Military Retired Pay Tax Credit: Utah offers a state tax credit on military retirement pay. The credit equals the federally taxable portion of retired pay multiplied by 0.0485.
Military Pay and Survivor Benefits:
- Utah follows federal tax rules—income exempt at the federal level is also exempt at the state level.
- Surviving spouses and dependent children of Service members who died on active duty or in the line of duty may claim a survivor benefit tax credit, also calculated at 0.0485 of federally taxable survivor benefits.
VA Disability Benefits: Payments such as VA disability compensation, VA pension, grants for specially adapted housing or vehicles, and dependent-care assistance are not taxable in Utah. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is also tax-free.
Survivor Annuities: SBP, RCSBP, and RSFPP annuities included in federal adjusted gross income are eligible for a Utah tax credit, equal to 0.0485 of the federally taxable amount.
Nonresident Service Member Protections:
- Nonresident active-duty Service members are exempt from Utah income tax on their military pay.
- Military spouses who meet federal residency protections are exempt from Utah tax on income earned while accompanying their Service member stationed in Utah.
Combat-Related Death Tax Credit: Families filing taxes on behalf of a Service member who died in a combat zone may receive a state tax credit covering taxes owed in the year of death.
Property Tax Exemptions:
- Active/Reserve Duty Exemption: Full property tax exemption on a primary residence for Service members stationed outside Utah for at least 200 days in a year. Requires annual application with supporting orders.
- Disabled Veteran & Survivor Exemption: Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10% may receive a property tax exemption up to $479,504 of a primary residence or personal property. The exemption amount is based on disability rating (100% disability = full exemption). Surviving spouses and minor orphans of Service members killed in action or who died in the line of duty may claim a full exemption.
Utah Sales Tax:
- Statewide rate: 6.10%
- Counties may add up to 2.95%
- Current statewide average: 7.19%
Recreation
Utah Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans:
The state of Utah provides reduced-cost hunting, fishing, and combination licenses to resident Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have a qualifying disability. Available one-year licenses include:
- Fishing License: $12
- Hunting License: $25.50
- Combination License: $28.50
Eligibility:
To qualify, applicants must be Utah residents, Veterans of an active or reserve component of the U.S. military, and hold a service-connected disability rating of 20% or higher. Proof of eligibility must be provided through an official VA or military-issued letter, card, or statement confirming the disability rating.
Utah Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass (Department of Natural Resources):
Through the Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah offers a free annual Honor Pass to eligible Veterans with disabilities. This pass provides complimentary day-use entry into all Utah State Parks for the Veteran and up to seven guests traveling in the same private vehicle.
The Honor Pass is non-transferable and valid only when carried by the Veteran it was issued to.
Who Can Apply:
Honorably discharged Utah resident Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of any percentage may apply. A current VA Summary of Benefits letter is required for verification.
Where to Obtain the Pass:
Honor Passes are available at Utah State Parks Region Offices, the main office in Salt Lake City, and most state park locations (excluding Flight Park, Piute State Park, Jordan River OHV State Park, Utah Raptor State Park, Lost Creek State Park, and This Is The Place Heritage Park).
Restrictions:
The pass is not valid for entry fees at This Is The Place Heritage Park, charges by Davis County for the Antelope Island Causeway, or special-use fees within certain parks.
Education Programs
Utah Veteran and Service Member Education Benefits
Utah National Guard State Tuition Assistance (STA)
The STA program helps Utah National Guard Service members cover tuition and fees once they’ve reached their annual Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) limit or if they are not eligible for FTA.
- Covers up to $250 per semester hour, with a yearly cap of $6,000.
- Applies to all Utah System of Higher Education schools for part-time or full-time enrollment in associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, aviation, or professional certificate programs.
- Service obligation after completion:
- 1 year for undergraduate degrees
- 2 years for graduate degrees
- 3 years for doctoral/aviation programs
- STEM-C programs may receive up to $7,000 per fiscal year, depending on available funding.
Eligibility: Must be actively serving in good standing with the Utah National Guard and not eligible for FTA. Applications should be submitted at least 15 days before classes begin.
Utah National Guard State Tuition Waiver (STW)
The STW waives tuition for Service members pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree at Utah public colleges or universities.
- Covers 12–18 credit hours per semester.
- Requires Utah residency for tuition purposes and MOS/AFSC qualification (except ROTC cadets).
- Applicants must not hold a four-year degree or be serving on active duty.
Applications are accepted annually from January 1 to April 30.
Other Utah Tuition and Education Benefits
- Purple Heart Tuition Waiver: Available to Utah resident Purple Heart recipients, valid through the master’s level.
- Veterans Tuition Gap Program: Offers up to one year of undergraduate tuition for Veterans who have exhausted their VA benefits and are in their final year of a bachelor’s degree.
- Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver: Waives undergraduate tuition for surviving spouses and dependents of Utah Service members who died in the line of duty (after Sept. 11, 2001).
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB)
A free program that helps Veterans prepare for postsecondary education through:
- Academic instruction (math, English, computer literacy)
- Counseling, workshops, and financial aid/admissions guidance
- Dedicated labs and study areas
Eligibility: Veterans with at least 181 days of active duty who are low-income, potential first-generation college graduates, or served in qualifying post-9/11 duty status.
Residency and Tuition Policies
Utah public institutions grant in-state tuition to:
- Nonresident Service members stationed in Utah (and their dependents)
- Nonresident Veterans (and family) within 12 months of honorable discharge, if using VA education benefits and intending to establish residency
- Former Utah residents returning after military service
- Utah National Guard and reserve members
Additional Education Support for Military Families
- Honorary High School Diplomas: Awarded to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Veterans who left school early to serve.
- Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): Ensures smooth transitions for children of Service members between school systems.
- Purple Star Schools Designation: Recognizes Utah schools that provide strong support for military-connected students, including a trained liaison and dedicated resources.
Housing: Below are the available Veterans Homes in Utah.
Utah State Veterans Home at Ivins
Utah State Veterans Home at Ogden
Utah State Veterans Home at Payson
Utah State Veterans Home at Salt Lake City
Services Provided:
- Short-term rehabilitation
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Skilled nursing services
- Respite care (available only in Salt Lake City and Payson)
- Memory care programs
- Hospice services (offered only at the Ogden facility)
- Post-stroke recovery care
- Pain management support
Eligibility for Utah State Veterans Homes:
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following:
- Be a resident of Utah
- Require nursing home-level care
- Have served more than 180 consecutive days on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, or
- Have served in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, or
- Have a service-connected injury or disability, even without 180 consecutive days of active duty
- Have 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 on active duty
Employment and Job Training: Veterans’ Preference
Utah State Employment Veterans’ Preference:
Utah provides hiring preference to eligible Veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses for state government jobs. Preference is applied by awarding additional points or percentage points (whichever is greater) to passing scores on hiring exams, ratings, or ranking systems:
- 5 points or 5% for Veterans
- 10 points or 10% for Veterans with a disability or Purple Heart recipients
- Eligible spouses or surviving spouses receive the same preference their Veteran would qualify for
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants may qualify if they meet one of the following:
- Served 180+ consecutive days on active duty (not for training) with an honorable discharge
- Served in a reserve component during a qualifying campaign/expedition with an honorable discharge
- Hold a VA or military disability rating
- Are a Purple Heart recipient
- Are a retired Service member
- Are the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran
Federal Employment Veterans’ Preference:
Federal law also grants Veterans preference in civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. Depending on service history or disability rating, Veterans may receive 5 or 10 extra points in hiring evaluations.
- 5-Point Preference: Awarded for service during wartime, certain historical periods, specific campaigns, or more than 180 consecutive days during designated eras.
- 10-Point Preference: Awarded for Veterans with service-connected disabilities, Purple Heart recipients, or qualifying spouses/surviving spouses.
Additional categories apply for Veterans with 30%+ disability ratings and for family members under Derived Preference (XP).
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA):
USERRA protects civilian job rights for Service members and Veterans returning from military service. Key provisions include:
- Reemployment Rights: Return to the same job (or comparable role) with seniority, pay, and benefits intact.
- Service Time Protection: Covers up to five years of cumulative military leave (with exceptions for longer enlistments or recalls).
- Disability Accommodation: Employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate disabled Veterans.
- Health & Pension Benefits: Service members may continue employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 24 months during service and maintain pension protections.
Utah Private Sector Veterans’ Preference:
Utah allows private employers to voluntarily adopt a written Veterans preference policy. This must be:
- Applied consistently
- Publicly posted at the workplace and online if applicable
- Supported by discharge paperwork for verification
Additional Utah Veteran Employment Programs:
- Veteran Employment Opportunity Program (VEOP): Allows Veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses to bypass competitive hiring for designated state jobs through a 6-month on-the-job exam period.
- Alternative State Application Program (ASAP): Provides disabled applicants a non-competitive review and trial employment period for state positions.
- Paid Military Leave: Utah state employees serving in the Guard or Reserves are entitled to 15 days of full-pay military leave annually, in addition to regular vacation.
- Utah Department of Workforce Services: Offers priority of service, military-to-civilian job crosswalks, referrals, and veteran-focused employment resources.
- Professional License Extensions & Fee Waivers: Service members may extend expired professional licenses until 90 days post-discharge. Active duty members can also receive fee waivers for licensing, and military spouses may work in Utah under valid out-of-state licenses.
- Veterans Business Resource Center (VBRC): Provides one-on-one business consulting, planning support, and startup guidance from Veteran entrepreneurs.
- Accelerated Credentialing to Employment (ACE): Helps Veterans, Service members, and spouses translate military experience into civilian licenses/certifications, access training programs, and improve job search skills.
Burials and Memorials
It’s important to record your wishes about burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone, keeping them with your personal and medical documents.
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors qualified Veterans and their families by ensuring a dignified resting place and a permanent memorial that reflects the Veteran’s service to the nation.
Burial benefits include a gravesite in any available national cemetery, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual maintenance, a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate—all provided at no cost to the family. Certain Veterans may also qualify for a burial allowance. Both cremated and casketed remains receive equal honor and respect when laid to rest in national cemeteries.
Eligible spouses and dependents also receive burial privileges, which include resting beside the Veteran and ongoing care of the gravesite. Their names, along with dates of birth and death, are engraved on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense. Notably, spouses and dependents may be interred even if they pass before the Veteran, and burial does not need to occur in the same cemetery as the Veteran.
National Cemeteries include:
Bluffdale: National Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Utah VA Benefit Resources
Utah offers Veterans access to a Regional Benefits Office along with VA Medical Centers.
Utah VA Regional Benefits Office
- Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City Regional Office
Utah VA Medical Centers
- Salt Lake City: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
Key Details on Utah Veteran Benefits:
If you’re applying for VA benefits for the first time, you’ll need to submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge document). This record verifies your discharge status, full name, Social Security number, branch of service, and service dates. In most cases, an honorable or general discharge makes a Veteran eligible for VA benefits.
It’s important to store your discharge papers and medical records securely where you and your family can easily access them. Keeping them in a fireproof safe or another secure location ensures they won’t be lost, damaged, or tampered with.
Eligibility for most VA benefits depends on 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 commissioned officers of the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Veterans who received a “Dishonorable” discharge due to bad conduct from a general court-martial may be barred from VA benefits. However, Veterans who are incarcerated or on parole may still qualify for certain benefits. VA regional offices can review and clarify eligibility for those with prison sentences, parole status, or multiple discharges under varying conditions.
Information current as of November 2023
Utah Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans in Utah with a VA disability rating of 90% or below may be entitled to extra benefits. Reach out to Vital Veterans Consultants for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Our team can review your claim to see if you qualify for further benefits.
