1. Property Tax — Primary Residence
Authority: Missouri Constitution Art. X, § 6; RSMo § 137.100.
Complete reference covering 58 benefit categories across 14 service tiers. Verify current eligibility with your County VSO before filing.
| Status / Rating | Headline Benefits Unlocked |
|---|---|
| Active Duty | In-state tuition for dependents; DL/ID veteran designation; specialty plates; TRICARE; SCRA protections; 180-day vehicle title penalty waiver post-discharge |
| Guard / Reserve | State Tuition Assistance (up to 39 cr/yr); tuition and fee waiver (≤120 cr); $5.50 hunting/fishing permit if recently federally activated; SSLI life insurance; MMFRF emergency grant |
| Military Retiree | 100% military retirement pay income tax exemption; SBP deduction up to $48,967 (2026 tax year); specialty plates; MOSERS service credit purchase |
| Veteran (honorable, no rating) | Property Tax Credit (income-limited, age 65+); veteran DL designation; specialty plates; in-state tuition (GI Bill users); Operation Recognition honorary diploma; state employment preference; DEFENDERS legal aid; free state cemetery burial |
| 0% SC | DV plate (any SC disability, one free set per RSMo 301.071 as administered by DOR); CDL skills test waiver; all Tier 4 benefits |
| 10–20% | All 0% SC benefits; veterans hiring preference applies regardless of rating |
| 30–40% | All lower-tier benefits; ⚠️ graduated property tax exemption bills (HJR115, HB2306) did NOT pass the 2026 session — no new law as of May 30, 2026 |
| 50–60% | All lower-tier benefits; same pending-legislation note as 30–40% |
| 70–90% | Free hunting/fishing (permit still required for deer, turkey, black bear, elk; migratory bird permit required); $2/night state park camping discount; all lower-tier benefits |
| 100% schedular | Property Tax Credit up to $1,100 (homeowner) / $750 (renter) — income-limited, VA income excluded; vehicle sales tax exemption (1 vehicle per 3 years); all 70%+ benefits |
| TDIU | Same as 100% schedular for state benefit purposes; property tax credit; vehicle sales tax exemption |
| P&T | POW + 100% SC = full homestead property tax exemption (RSMo 137.100, current law); non-POW 100% P&T: property tax credit (income-limited) under current law |
| SMC (Housebound/A&A) | No separate state SMC-specific programs; state benefits track the underlying VA rating |
| Surviving spouse / dependents | Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant (tuition + $2,000/sem housing + $500 books, ≤25 recipients/yr); POW/100% SC death: homestead property tax exemption (RSMo 137.100); DIC tax-free; DEFENDERS estate planning; free state cemetery burial as eligible dependent |
Authority: Missouri Constitution Art. X, § 6; RSMo § 137.100.
Missouri has no statewide veteran vehicle personal property tax exemption. Vehicle property tax is collected at the county level; no statewide veteran exemption statute found. Some county assessors may apply local general-disability provisions — ⚠️ verify with your county assessor.
Authority: RSMo §§ 144.011 and 144.617; Form 4298A (Application for Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Exemption).
Authority: RSMo § 143.121; Form MO-A.
Authority: RSMo § 143.121, effective August 28, 2025; deduct on Form MO-A, Part 1.
Authority: RSMo § 143.121; Missouri DOR pension FAQ (dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/individual/pension.html); Form MO-A.
Missouri does not issue a general sales tax exemption card to veterans for everyday retail purchases. The only veteran-specific sales tax exemption is the one-time-per-three-years motor vehicle purchase exemption (§3 above) for 100% SC disabled veterans.
Authority: Missouri DOR; dor.mo.gov.
Authority: RSMo § 301.071; dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/plates/disabled-veteran.html.
Missouri has no state toll roads; no veteran toll exemption program applies. I-70 and other Missouri interstates are toll-free.
No statewide veteran transit benefit program exists. Some local transit systems (Kansas City, St. Louis) may offer senior/disabled discounts that could apply to veterans with qualifying disabilities, but no uniform state program has been identified. ⚠️ Verify locally with metro transit agencies.
Authority: RSMo § 301.142; Form DOR-1776; apply through Missouri DOR.
Authority: RSMo § 302.188; apply at any Missouri license office.
Authority: Missouri DOR; Federal FMCSA Military Skills Test Waiver program.
Authority: RSMo hunting/fishing exemption; mdc.mo.gov/permits/veteran-benefits.
Missouri is landlocked. No saltwater fishing applies.
The 60%+ SC exemption explicitly does not include trapping. Standard resident trapping permit fees apply.
Authority: Missouri State Parks; mostateparks.com/msp-honors-vets.
Missouri does not offer a veteran-specific annual or lifetime state parks pass. State park day admission is already free for all visitors (§24). Camping discounts apply as noted in §25 but there is no dedicated annual pass for veterans.
No veteran-specific watercraft registration fee exemption found. Standard registration fees apply based on vessel length. The 180-day title-penalty grace period (§10) applies to boats purchased post-discharge but is a late-penalty waiver, not a fee elimination. ⚠️ Verify with Missouri DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau (573-526-3669) for any recent changes.
Authority: RSMo education provisions; Missouri CBHE policy.
Authority: RSMo § 173.900 (effective August 28, 2008; amended August 28, 2019).
Authority: RSMo § 173.234; 6 CSR 10-2.160.
Authority: RSMo § 173.239 (amended).
Authority: RSMo § 36.220.
Missouri does not operate a state-level veteran home loan or down-payment assistance program separate from the federal VA Home Loan Guaranty. ⚠️ Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) operates first-time homebuyer programs that veterans may qualify for on general terms — verify at mhdc.com. These are not veteran-specific programs.
No Missouri state-funded adapted housing grant supplement to the federal VA SAH/SHA grants has been identified. Veterans rely on federal VA grants: SAH (up to $126,526 in FY2026), SHA (up to $25,350), TRA. ⚠️ Verify locally; some county or nonprofit programs may exist.
Authority: 11 CSR 85-1.030; Missouri Veterans Commission.
Authority: RSMo §§ 571.101 et seq.; RSMo § 571.205.
Authority: Missouri Veterans Commission Cemeteries Program.