Veterans & Military · Surprise rank #216
Veteran Homeowners: Cut Your Property Taxes Without Needing a 100% Disability Rating
Locally adopted veterans’ exemptions reduce taxable property value for qualifying veterans and certain family members.
Who
Qualifying veteran homeowners or eligible surviving spouses/parents, depending on local law.
Where: Statewide where the local taxing jurisdiction adopted the exemption.
What to do
Start here: Ask the local assessor which veterans’ exemptions are adopted and the exact taxable-status deadline.
Eligibility: Qualifying service, ownership/residency and local adoption; disability can increase some exemptions.
What you get
Veteran homeowners may qualify for a locally adopted partial property-tax exemption without being rated 100% disabled.
Benefit: A reduction in taxable assessed value under one of New York’s veterans’ exemption programs.
Possible value: Often hundreds to several thousand dollars annually.
Good to know
Important: Local adoption, service period/category, property ownership and residence rules vary. Only one of the three main exemptions can be used and an application is required.
Availability: Annual local filing cycle; March 1 is common but not universal.
Why people miss it: Veterans assume a federal disability rating is always required or that the exemption transfers automatically after moving.
Sources reviewed: Aug 2, 2026