Disabled vet or surviving spouse may get property tax exemption

We sat down and looked over the state laws and discussed what the assessor’s office can do to assist veterans in Union County with property tax relief.

I want to get into detail about these property tax exemptions. Veterans who are disabled and their surviving spouses may be eligible to receive an exemption on a portion of their property taxes.  Below you will find a rather comprehensive guide.

To qualify, veterans must meet the following three requirements:

1. Own and live in their Union County home as their primary residence.

2. Be certified as 40 percent or more disabled by the Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Armed Forces, or be certified as 40 percent or more disabled by an independent licensed physician.

Vets, read that last statement again. It means that you do not have to be service connected for your disability. If your private physician states that you are disabled at 40 percent or greater, you qualify.  

3. Received an honorable discharge from active duty and meet at least one of the following requirements: 

• Served at least 91 consecutive days beginning on or before Jan. 31, 1955, or 179 consecutive days beginning after Jan. 31, 1955.

• Served for 178 days or less and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions because of a service-connected disability, or has a disability rating from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

• Served for at least one day in a combat zone.

• Received a combat or campaign ribbon, or expeditionary medal for service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Is receiving a non service-connected pension from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Veterans certified by an independent physician must also meet an income requirement, which for 2012 is a total gross income of $20,664.50 without dependents and it increases by $7,326 for each additional
dependent.

If you meet the above requirements, then you must file the independent physician’s certificate annually with the exemption claim form and their statement of total gross income.

Once the veteran reaches the age of 66, and has filed the physician’s certificate in the previous year, the veteran is no longer required to file the certificate but is still required to file annually the exemption claim form and the statement of total gross income.  

Surviving spouses and partners of veterans will also qualify if they own and live in their Union County home as their primary residence and are surviving spouses or partners of a veteran as described in “3” above. For surviving spouse or partner to qualify, the deceased veteran need not have been disabled

To file for your exemption you must submit the Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Exemption Claim form with the following documents.

Veterans also submit: 

• A copy of your DD-214 or other military-issued documentation showing your honorable discharge and period of active service.

• A copy of your disability certification.

• If married, a copy of marriage certificate.

Surviving spouses/partners also submit:

• A copy of the veteran’s DD-214 or other military-issued documentation showing his or her honorable discharge and period of active service.

• A copy of your marriage license or certificate of registered domestic partnership.

• A copy of the veteran’s death certificate. 

Claims are accepted between Jan. 1 and April 1 for the upcoming tax year beginning July 1. Exceptions may apply for recently widowed spouses or partners, or veterans who have recently received a retroactive disability certification from
the Department of Veteran Affairs. 

For more information or to pick up exemption forms contact the Assessor’s Office,1001 Fourth St., La Grande or my office at 2301 Cove Ave.,
La Grande.

Byron Whipple is the Union County veterans service officer.