Montana veterans benefits

Property tax relief for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (and qualifying unmarried surviving spouses) on a primary residence occupied 7+ months/year. Relief is a reduction of the property tax rate on a sliding scale tied to income, not a flat dollar exemption. Apply by April 15 to the Dept. of Revenue using Form MDV.

Montana residents may subtract basic, special, and incentive pay earned on active duty in the regular armed forces, plus combat-zone exclusion income and qualifying National Guard/reserve contingency or homeland-defense salary, from Montana taxable income.

Eligible military retirees may subtract from Montana taxable income the lesser of 50% of their DFAS military retirement income or 100% of their Montana-source income (wages, business, or farming). Requires meeting residency-timing rules; limited to 5 consecutive years with statutory sunset dates. Survivor benefit recipients may exempt up to 50% of survivor benefits regardless of other income. Montana does not fully exempt military retirement.

Wartime veterans who are Montana residents and are no longer eligible for federal VA educational benefits may receive a tuition fee waiver at Montana University System institutions. Administered under Montana administrative rule 34.6.106; specific eligibility (wartime service, residency, exhaustion of VA benefits) applies. Exact dollar value depends on the institution's tuition; not a fixed amount.

Under MCA Title 39, Chapter 29, public employers using a scored hiring procedure add 5 percentage points to a veteran's passing score and 10 percentage points for a disabled veteran or eligible relative (cannot stack the 5 on top of the 10). If no scoring procedure is used, preference is given in order: disabled veterans, persons with disabilities, veterans, then eligible relatives, among substantially equal applicants. Requires honorable separation and 180+ consecutive days active federal duty (or qualifying wartime/campaign reserve service).

A Montana resident veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled (as determined by the VA) may obtain a special 'DV' disabled veteran license plate for one vehicle, and the registration fee for a passenger vehicle or light truck (1 ton or less GVW) is $5 in lieu of all other fees and taxes. Limited to one vehicle; plate is non-transferable.

Under MCA 87-2-815, residents and nonresidents may donate hunting licenses to a disabled military veteran or disabled active-duty service member participating in a rehabilitation organization. The recipient must, as a result of combat-zone wounds/injuries, be medically retired, have a 70% or greater VA/DoD disability rating, or have active-duty status.

Montana residents who have been awarded the Purple Heart may fish and hunt upland game birds with a Conservation License issued by FWP, regardless of age. Verification of the Purple Heart and a DD-214 are required.

A veteran or disabled service member with a combat-connected injury (per MCA 87-2-803/87-2-817) may apply at an FWP office for Class A-3/A-4/B-7/B-8 deer tags and a special antelope license at one-half the license fee. Up to 50 of each license type are issued annually. The statute keys eligibility to a combat-connected injury and does not state a VA rating percentage.

Montana operates the Montana Veterans' Home (MVH) in Columbia Falls (Medicare/Medicaid/VA-certified; ~105 skilled/intermediate-care beds plus 12 domiciliary beds) and the Eastern Montana Veterans' Home (EMVH) in Glendive (80 beds including a 16-bed special care unit). Eligibility: honorably discharged veteran, or the spouse/surviving spouse of an eligible veteran (some facilities also note Gold Star Parents). Administered by DPHHS.