Disabled Veterans rated 100 percent disabled may be exempt from paying California property taxes. I’m thinking we need to drop that rating percentage quite a bit lower!
Thank you for your sacrifice, we must find a way to do more!
The Disabled Veterans' Exemption reduces the property tax liability for qualified veterans who, due to a service-connected injury or disease, have been rated 100% disabled or are being compensated at the 100% rate due to unemployability. Along with the disability requirements, a qualified veteran is one whose character of discharge from military service is under "other than dishonorable" conditions and served during one of the time periods listed in California Constitution Article XIII, section 3(o). See Veterans' Exemption for a complete description of a qualified veteran.
In order for property to qualify for the Disabled Veterans' Exemption, it must be used as the principal place of residence of the veteran or the unmarried surviving spouse of a qualified disabled veteran. One exception to this requirement occurs when the claimant is confined to a hospital or other care facility and the property would be that claimant's principal place of residence were it not for such confinement, provided that the residence is not rented or leased. The property may be owned by the veteran, the veteran's spouse, or the veteran and spouse jointly. The unmarried surviving spouse of qualified veterans may also claim the exemption.
This exemption provides for a more advantageous exemption than the Veterans' Exemption or the Homeowners' Exemption. Thus, if a claimant qualifies, the Disabled Veterans' Exemption should be claimed in lieu of the Veterans' Exemption or the Homeowners' Exemption.
No other property tax exemption may be granted to a residence which has been granted a Disabled Veterans' Exemption. However, if two or more qualified claimants own a property in which they reside, each is entitled to the Disabled Veterans' Exemption to the extent of his or her interest.
A qualifying disabled veteran, or the unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, may claim either of the following benefits on his or her principal place of residence:
An exemption from property taxation on that part of the full value of the residence that does not exceed $100,000, as adjusted for the relevant assessment year (basic exemption); or
An exemption from property taxation on that part of the full value of the residence that does not exceed $150,000, as adjusted for the relevant assessment year, when the household income of the claimant does not exceed $40,000, as adjusted for the relevant assessment year (low-income exemption).
The dollar amounts of the exemption and the income threshold for the low-income exemption are increased annually due to inflation.
Definition of a Disabled Veteran
The Disabled Veterans' Exemption is available to a qualified veteran, who is disabled according to any one of the following criteria:
Is blind in both eyes. Being blind in both eyes means having a visual acuity of 5/200 or less, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Has lost the use of two or more limbs. Losing the use of a limb means that the limb has been amputated or its use has been lost by reason of ankylosis, progressive muscular dystrophies, or paralysis
Was totally disabled as a result of injury or disease incurred in military service. Being totally disabled means that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) or the veteran's military branch has rated the disability at 100 percent or has rated the disability compensation at 100 percent by reason of being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. If a veteran has received a disability rating of 100 percent from the USDVA, the county assessor should consider the veteran qualified for the exemption without requiring further documentation of disability, such as medical files.
Check out this link for more information:
http://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/dv_exemption.htm