Indiana — Veteran Benefits
Complete reference covering 58 benefit categories across 14 service tiers. Verify current eligibility with your County VSO before filing.
At a Glance — What Unlocks by Status / Rating
| Status / Rating | Headline Benefits Unlocked |
|---|---|
| Active Duty | Full exemption from Indiana income tax on all active duty pay (2024+); BMV DL extension; CDL skills waiver (1 yr post-discharge); IHCDA home loan programs (no first-time buyer requirement); IndyGo free bus pass; Military Interstate Compact (K-12) |
| Guard / Reserve | Indiana National Guard Supplemental Grant (up to 100% public tuition / $5,000 private); federal TA ($4,500/yr); reduced-fee hunting/fishing ($2.75 DAV license) if SC disabled; MFRF hardship grant; MIC3 K-12 protections |
| Military Retiree | Full military retirement pay exempt from Indiana income tax (tax year 2022+); SBP/RCSBP/RSFPP annuities exempt; Space Force / USPHS / NOAA retirees exempt; IHCDA programs available |
| Veteran (honorable, no rating) | Hoosier Veteran plate ($15 group fee); veteran DL designation (free at renewal); free vendor/hawker/peddler license; IndyGo free bus pass; CVSO free claims help; IVH admission eligible; IVMC burial at no cost |
| 0% SC | Same as no-rating; SC rating unlocks DAV reduced-fee hunting/fishing ($2.75 annual); MFRF grant; state civil service preference |
| 10–20% | Wartime: $24,960 property tax deduction (IC 6-1.1-12-13); non-wartime 90+ days / totally disabled or age 62+: $14,000 deduction capped at AV $240,000 (IC 6-1.1-12-14); vehicle excise tax credit up to $70/vehicle (2 vehicles max); 5- or 10-preference points on state civil service exams |
| 30–40% | Same as 10–20%; DAV hunting/fishing license $2.75 annual / $27.50 for 10 years |
| 50–60% | Same; DHV plate eligibility (qualifying mobility/limb/vision condition, or 50%+ SC with 60%+ of that attributable to mobility); free metered parking statewide; Golden Hoosier Passport $25/yr |
| 70–90% | Same; combined property deduction up to $38,960 if wartime-eligible and meets §13 + §14 thresholds |
| 100% schedular | Same; also: HEA 1210 (signed March 12, 2026) — full 100% property tax exemption on homestead, no assessed-value cap, taxes payable 2027 (apply July 1–Dec 30, 2026, State Form 51186); sales tax exemption on eligible purchases up to $24,000/yr effective July 1, 2026 (excludes vehicles, tobacco, alcohol) ⚠️ verify mechanism with Indiana DOR; free hunting/fishing license |
| TDIU | Treated as totally disabled for HEA 1210 property tax exemption and most state purposes; sales tax exemption applies ⚠️ verify with Indiana DOR; same property and recreation benefits as 100% |
| P&T | All prior; CHAMPVA (federal, VA-administered); MFRF grant if hardship; surviving spouse provisions in HEA 1210 extend at death |
| SMC (Housebound/A&A) | All prior; free catastrophic hunting days (4 days/yr for veterans meeting 38 CFR 17.36(e) — quadriplegia, paraplegia, legal blindness, specific amputations); IVH admission priority |
| Surviving spouse / dependents | Property tax deductions mirror veteran's eligibility (IC 6-1.1-12-13/-14/-16); 100% exemption under HEA 1210 extends to surviving spouse of totally disabled veteran (no remarriage); children's tuition/fee exemption at public colleges (124 credit hours, must apply before 33rd birthday); IVH admission (married 5+ yrs); state burial allowance $1,000; IVMC burial at no cost |
Taxes
2. Property Tax — Vehicle / Personal Property
Authority: IC 6-6-5-5.2.
3. Vehicle Sales / Use Tax
4. State Income Tax — Active Duty Military Pay
Authority: IC 6-3-2-4 (Military Service Deduction).
5. State Income Tax — Military Retirement Pay
Authority: IC 6-3-2-4.
6. State Income Tax — SBP Annuity
Authority: IC 6-3-2-4.
7. State Income Tax — General
8. Sales Tax Exemption
Not available in this jurisdiction.
9. Other State Tax Breaks
Vehicle, Travel & ID
10. Vehicle Registration Fee
Authority: IC 9-18.5-5; IC 6-6-5-5.2.
11. Disabled Veteran License Plates
Authority: IC 9-18.5-5; IC 9-21-16.
12. Other Veteran / Military Specialty Plates
13. Toll Road / Bridge Exemption
14. Public Transit Discount
15. Disabled Parking Privileges
16. Driver License / State ID Fee
17. CDL Fee / Skills-Test Waiver
18. Veteran Designation on DL / ID
Outdoor Recreation
19. Hunting License
Authority: [Indiana DNR Disabled Veterans Licenses](https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/licenses-and-permits/disabled-veterans)
How to apply: Complete the DNR disabled veteran license application form (contact DNR Customer Service Center, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; download from [in.gov/dnr](https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/licenses-and-permits/disabled-veterans)). Form 50833 was cited in earlier research but DNR's current download reference is ID 5647 — verify the current form number with IDNR before mailing. Mail with payment and self-addressed stamped envelope; certified application returned for use at retail licensors.
20. Fishing License — Freshwater
21. Fishing License — Saltwater
22. Combination Hunt/Fish License
23. Trapping License
Indiana does not offer a reduced-fee or free trapping license for veterans. Standard resident trapping license fees apply. ⚠️ Verify with IDNR (317-232-4200) for any administrative exemption not reflected in published fee schedules.
24. State Parks — Day Use / Entrance
25. State Parks — Camping
26. State Parks — Annual / Lifetime Pass
27. Boat / Watercraft Registration
Indiana does not offer a veteran-specific boat registration fee waiver or reduction. Standard watercraft registration fees ($25–$49 depending on length/type) apply. ⚠️ Verify with Indiana BMV Watercraft Division (888-692-6841).
Education
28. In-State Tuition
29. Tuition Waiver — Disabled Veteran
30. Dependent Education Benefit
31. Spouse Education Benefit
32. National Guard / Reserve Tuition Assistance
33. K-12 Support
34. State Student Loan / Scholarship
Employment & Licensing
35. Veterans Hiring Preference
36. Professional License Fee Waiver
37. Professional License Reciprocity — Military Spouse
38. Business License Fee Break
39. Civil Service / Retirement Credit
Housing & Financial
40. State Home Loan / Down-Payment Assistance
41. Financial Assistance / Emergency Relief
42. State Veteran Bonus
43. Specially Adapted Housing — State Supplement
No Indiana state-funded adapted housing grant supplement distinct from the federal VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants was identified. Federal SAH cap for FY2026: $126,526. SHA cap: $25,350. The MFRF emergency grant (Cat. 41) can address housing-related expenses up to $2,500 in hardship situations.
44. Utility / Heating Assistance
Health & Support
45. State Veterans Home / Nursing Home
46. Behavioral / Mental Health Programs
47. Dental / Vision / Health Programs
No Indiana state-funded dental, vision, or general health insurance program specifically for veterans was identified. Coverage comes through:
48. Long-Term Care / Aid & Attendance Supplement
49. Free Legal Aid / Veteran Treatment Courts
50. Concealed Carry / Firearms Fee Waiver
51. Vital Records / Notary Fee Waiver
Legal & Administrative
52. Unique State Programs
Survivor Benefits
53. Surviving Spouse — Property Tax
54. Surviving Spouse — Education
55. Dependent / Survivor State Benefit
Memorial & Burial
56. State Veterans Cemetery
57. Burial Allowance / Plot
Authority: IC 10-17-10 (Veterans' Burial Allowance). ⚠️ Confirm current amount with your county auditor — the $1,000 figure is consistent across official U.S. Army and Air Force benefits sites (updated November 2025) and referenced in IC 10-17-10; older county headstone provisions under superseded IC 10-5-3-1 cited lower amounts.