State file · UT
Veteran benefits in Utah
Utah offers disabled veterans a substantial property tax abatement, an Honor Pass for free state park access, and strong National Guard tuition assistance, alongside four state veterans homes.
Back to the state mapUtah file
Financial benefits
Military retirement pay
Utah treats military retirement pensions as taxable income and does not offer additional credits for veteran retirees beyond the state's general retirement credits.
Disability pay and DIC
VA military disability retired pay is tax-exempt in defined situations, including combat-related injury compensation and amounts matching VA disability compensation eligibility. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or of veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
Property tax abatement for disabled veterans
Disabled veterans can receive a property tax reduction on up to roughly $260,370 of appraised value, multiplied by their disability percentage. Surviving spouses may also qualify.
Active-duty property tax exemption
Active and reserve members with 200 or more days of qualifying service may have the total taxable value of their primary residence exempted in the year following service, and the exemption also covers claimants deployed out of state for military duty.
Purple Heart fee exemptions
Purple Heart recipients are exempt from a range of motor vehicle fees, including registration, license plate issuance, the driver education fee, the uninsured motorist identification fee, and the local transportation corridor preservation fee.
Sales tax picture
The statewide sales tax rate is 4.85%, with county additions of up to 4.2%; the combined average is roughly 6.88%.
Recreation
Disabled veteran fishing license
Utah veterans with a 20% or higher disability rating may be eligible for discounted fishing licenses.
Honor Pass for state parks
Honorably discharged Utah resident veterans with a 50% or higher disability rating are eligible for an Honor Pass, which gives free access to all state parks for the veteran and up to 7 guests in the same private vehicle.
Education programs
National Guard State Tuition Assistance
Utah National Guard members can receive up to $250 per semester hour and up to $6,000 per fiscal year, with STEM and cyber majors eligible for up to $7,000 per fiscal year.
Purple Heart Tuition Waiver
Purple Heart recipients are eligible for a tuition waiver at all Utah state schools, usable toward degrees up to and including a master's degree.
Veterans' Tuition Gap Coverage
Covers tuition for the final year of a bachelor's degree for eligible Utah resident veterans who have exhausted Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver
Utah System of Higher Education institutions waive undergraduate tuition for surviving dependents of service members killed after September 11, 2001.
Veteran housing
Utah State Veterans Homes
Utah operates veterans homes in Ivins, Ogden, Payson, and Salt Lake City. Honorably discharged veterans are eligible, with wartime veterans given preference; spouses and surviving spouses may also qualify, and there may be a cost for care.
Employment & job training
State hiring preference
Veterans receive 5 points added to state employment examination scores, and veterans with a VA service-connected disability receive 10 points.
Professional license extension
A license held by a National Guard or reserve member that expires during active duty is extended until 90 days after discharge. Honorably discharged veterans with recent commercial driving experience may also qualify for a CDL driving skills test waiver within 90 days of separation.
USERRA protections
Federal law protects the civilian job rights and benefits of veterans and reserve component members returning from duty.
Burials & memorials
Veterans cemetery at Bluffdale
The veterans memorial cemetery in Bluffdale provides interment at no fee for the veteran, with a small fee for dependents.
VA resources in Utah
Salt Lake City Regional Office
The VA regional office serving Utah for benefits claims and questions.
Official siteBefore you apply
- First-time applicants generally need a copy of their DD-214 or discharge paperwork — keep certified copies somewhere safe.
- Most programs require a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge may bar eligibility.
- “Active service” has a specific definition for many programs — training periods don’t always count. When in doubt, ask the agency directly.
Utah file open
Questions about what applies to you?
Programs are one thing — your situation is another. Tell us where you are and we'll help you get oriented, in plain language.