Do disabled Veterans pay property tax in Georgia?

A 100% service-connected disabled Veteran can exempt $126,526 of the home's value (the 2026 federal maximum) from all ad valorem property tax (state, county, municipal, and school), enough to eliminate the bill on most homes.

How much of my home's value is exempt as a 100% disabled Veteran in 2026?

$126,526, the 2026 federal maximum under 38 U.S.C. 2102, which O.C.G.A. 48-5-48 indexes to automatically. It applies against all ad valorem property tax (state, county, municipal, and school). The figure adjusts every federal fiscal year, so confirm the current number with your county tax commissioner. Georgia does not offer a graduated version of this exemption for ratings below 100%.

Will Georgia's disabled-Veteran property tax exemption become a full, uncapped exemption?

Not yet. Senate Bill 129 has passed both chambers of the Georgia legislature and would raise the 100%-rated exemption to the full assessed value with no cap, plus create a new proportional exemption for Veterans rated below 100%. But it still needs voter approval on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and if approved it becomes effective January 1, 2027. It is not law today.

Does Georgia offer a partial property tax exemption for ratings below 100%?

No. Under current law, Georgia's disabled-Veteran homestead exemption applies only at the 100% service-connected level, a TDIU 100% pay rate, or a statutory award for loss of use of feet, hands, or sight. There is no graduated benefit for lower ratings today. Veterans rated below 100% should look at Georgia's age-65 and income-based homestead exemptions instead.

Does Georgia's new $65,000 military retirement tax exemption apply to my 2026 return?

No. Several online guides state the $65,000-for-any-age exemption applies beginning with the 2026 tax year, but HB 266 (signed May 13, 2025) sets the effective date of that change at January 1, 2027. For your 2026 return, the prior structure applies: up to $17,500 if you are under 62 (plus another $17,500 with sufficient Georgia earned income), $35,000 if you are 62 to 64, and $65,000 if you are 65 or older.

Who qualifies for the Georgia disabled-Veteran exemption?

A Veteran rated 100% service-connected (or with specially adapted housing), and an unremarried surviving spouse or minor children. The amount is indexed to the federal maximum.

Apply at your county tax commissioner's office with your VA disability award letter. Deadlines vary by county, so confirm your county's exact date.

Disabled Veteran property tax exemption in Georgia

By Mike Certo, NMLS #260555 — Updated July 2026

Key takeaways

Under O.C.G.A. §48-5-48, a Georgia Veteran rated 100% service-connected disabled (or compensated at the 100% rate via TDIU, or entitled to a statutory award for loss of use of feet, hands, or sight) exempts $126,526 of home value in 2026 from all ad valorem property tax: state, county, municipal, and school.
Georgia does not offer a graduated exemption for ratings below 100%; below-100% Veterans should instead check Georgia's age-65 and income-based homestead exemptions.
The exemption transfers to an unremarried surviving spouse or minor children who continue to occupy the home under O.C.G.A. §48-5-48, with no requirement that the Veteran filed before death.
Apply for the 2026 tax year at your county tax commissioner's office with your VA Summary of Benefits letter; deadlines vary by county, so confirm your county's exact date.
A 2026 ballot measure (SB 129), already passed by both chambers of the legislature, would make this a full uncapped exemption and add a proportional tier for partial ratings, but it needs voter approval on November 3, 2026 and would not take effect until January 1, 2027. It is not law today.

Program figures verified July 2026 — details change; confirm your scenario with us.

Georgia exempts $126,526 of assessed value (2026, indexed annually) from ALL ad valorem property taxes — county, school, and municipal — for Veterans rated 100% service-connected, paid at 100% through TDIU, or receiving statutory awards (§48-5-48). On most Georgia homes that eliminates the large majority of the bill. This page walks through who qualifies and how to apply by the April 1 deadline.

How much property tax does a 100% disabled Veteran pay in Georgia?

A Veteran rated 100% service-connected disabled in Georgia pays property tax only on home value above $126,526 in 2026 (O.C.G.A. §48-5-48). The exemption applies to all ad valorem tax — state, county, municipal, and school — so on most Georgia homes the bill drops to zero. It covers your homestead only, and an unremarried surviving spouse keeps it. Estimate your county savings with the disabled Veteran property tax exemption Georgia calculator.

How Georgia's disabled Veteran property tax exemption works

Georgia provides one of the more substantial assessed-value exemptions in the Southeast. The current cap is indexed to inflation and adjusted annually.

100% disability rating

A Veteran rated 100% service-connected disabled, or compensated at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability, receives a homestead exemption that subtracts up to $126,526 (the 2026 indexed figure) from the assessed value of their homestead before tax is calculated. For most Georgia homes, this eliminates the local property tax bill.

Lower ratings

Georgia does not provide a graduated disability exemption for lower ratings. Veterans rated under 100% should look at the general age-65 and income-based exemptions instead.

Surviving spouse

A surviving spouse who has not remarried can continue receiving the exemption. The spouse must occupy the property as a homestead.

How to apply

Apply at your county tax commissioner's office. You will need your VA disability award letter showing the 100% or TDIU rating, proof of Georgia residency, and the homestead exemption application. Deadline is typically April 1.

How this fits with your VA loan

When you buy a home in Georgia with a VA loan, your lender estimates property tax as part of your monthly payment (the T in PITI). If you qualify for the disabled Veteran exemption, that monthly tax escrow drops or zeroes out — which lowers your full monthly payment and improves your debt-to-income ratio. Some lenders are willing to use the post-exemption tax figure during underwriting; others want you to qualify on the pre-exemption number. Mike can structure this correctly during pre-approval so you do not lose buying power.

Common questions

Do I need to be 100% disabled to qualify?

Georgia exempts up to $126,526 (2026 indexed) of assessed value for Veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled. If you are rated below 100% in Georgia, check the detail above — some states provide graduated relief at lower ratings.

What if my disability rating changes?

Rating changes can affect eligibility. If you become rated 100% after buying, you can apply for the exemption going forward (not retroactively in most cases). If your rating decreases below the qualifying threshold, the exemption ends.

Does the exemption transfer if I sell and buy a new home?

You typically need to reapply when you move. The exemption applies to your primary residence, so each new homestead requires a fresh application with the county.

What about my spouse if I pass away?

Georgia allows the surviving spouse to continue the exemption under specific conditions — see the detailed section above. Estate planning around this benefit is worth discussing with a Georgia attorney before any major decisions.