State Representative Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake) is reminding disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased disabled veterans to apply for their disabled veteran homestead property tax exclusion benefits before the deadline of December 31.
Dettmer, who chief-authored the law providing these benefits, noted a pair of new provisions added to the statute. They include the removal of the eight-year property tax exclusion limit and the one-time change of residence allowed for a surviving spouse.
“Recent changes the Legislature made to the disabled Veteran homestead property tax exclusion will help the spouses of deceased Veterans remain in the home they raised their family in without the fear of being forced out because they reached the limit on the property tax exclusion,” Dettmer said. “Spouses of deceased disabled Veterans will also be allowed to move to a smaller home and keep the property tax exclusion if they are no longer able to maintain the larger home they currently own.”
Dettmer said the program provides a property tax benefit to qualifying homeowners by excluding the value of their home, or a portion thereof, for property tax purposes. The benefit applies to certain veterans with a disability, their surviving spouses, the surviving spouses of military personnel who have died in the line of duty, and certain primary caregivers of qualifying veterans.
Veterans who are totally and permanently disabled (100% T&P) are eligible for a valuation exclusion of $300,000. Veterans who are not totally and permanently disabled, but who have a disability rating of 70 percent or higher, are eligible for an exclusion of $150,000. If a qualifying veteran does not own a house, but has a designated “primary family caregiver” who does own a house, the caregiver can receive the exclusion for the time he or she continues in that role. In some circumstances, surviving spouses may continue to receive program benefits after the qualifying veteran has died.
Application for benefits under this program must be filed with the county assessor before December 31 in order to take effect for taxes payable next year.
For more information on the disabled veteran homestead property tax exclusion program, visit https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2018-12/Fact%20Sheet%2011%20%28disabled%20vets%29.pdf