An estimated 434,487 veterans live in Arizona, making up 7.5% of the state's population or the 15th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Arizona Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement pay and benefits, including Survivor Benefit Plan payments, are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free.
Arizona Veteran Property Taxes
The property tax of disabled veterans and their survivors may be waived in certain cases. Contact the local assessor.
Arizona Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
The Tuition Waiver Scholarship Program provides veterans and surviving dependents free tuition up to a bachelor's degree at state institutions. The following may apply:
- A current member of the state National Guard who received a Purple Heart after Sept. 11, 2001.
- A veteran of the state Guard who was medically discharged for an injury or disability received on duty.
- A veteran who received a Purple Heart; and who was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury; and who has a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating of 50% or more.
Military Dependent Education
The Tuition Waiver Scholarship Program provides surviving dependents free tuition up to a bachelor's degree at state institutions, including the unremarried spouse or dependent child, up to age 30, of an an active-duty or state Guard member who was a resident of Arizona or stationed in Arizona and who was killed in the line of duty.
Arizona Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Preference points: Veterans who pass an examination for employment by the state, county or city receive 5 points added to their certification score. Honorably separated veterans entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability receive 10 points.
Driving: Eligible military personnel or veterans may have the Commercial Driver License (CDL) skills tests waived if they are on active duty or within one year of discharge and operated a commercial motor vehicle or the equivalent for at least two years immediately before discharge.
Military Spouse Employment
Preference points: Certain spouses or surviving spouses receive a 5-point preference if the veteran died of a service-connected disability; or was MIA or POW; or has total and permanent service-connected disability.
Real estate: The Arizona Department of Real Estate offers reduced licensing requirements for military spouses.
Arizona Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Arizona's four veterans homes are skilled nursing facilities in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. Veterans must be honorably discharged and certified by a doctor as needing skilled nursing care. Spouses may also be admitted.
Homeless Veterans
The Community Resource and Referral Center provides access to services, including benefits.
Adapted Housing
No benefits.
Arizona Veteran Financial Assistance
The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund provides financial assistance to the families of currently deployed service members and other military and veteran families for hardships caused by their military service. Applicants can receive up to $3,000, with a lifetime limit of $20,000.
Arizona Veteran Legal Assistance
No state-funded legal services.
Arizona Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Hunting and fishing licenses are free to 100% disabled veterans and veterans ages 70 and older with 25 years of Arizona residency. Veterans with any service-connected disability rating can receive 25% off, and Purple Heart recipients 50% off, following a year of residency.
Active-duty members stationed in Arizona receive hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Arizona offers discounts to its state parks, including:
- 50% day-use discount to all active-duty, Guard and reserve members and up to three accompanying adult family members
- 50% day-use discount to all resident military retirees
- 50% day-use discount to disabled military
- Free day-use pass to all resident 100% service-connected disabled veterans
Arizona Veteran Transportation Benefits
Veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled don't pay the license tax or registration fee for a personally owned vehicle. A resident veteran is exempt from the vehicle license tax on a vehicle acquired by the veteran through financial aid from the federal VA. This also applies to the unremarried surviving spouse.
Arizona Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Arizona's three veterans cemeteries are in Camp Navajo, Marana and Sierra Vista. Veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge are eligible. Spouses and certain dependents may also be eligible. There is no charge for interment for veterans and a small fee for spouses and dependents.
More Information
Visit the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services website for more information about any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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