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Tennessee Veteran benefits

19 benefits from Tennessee for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Veterans Services is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 615-741-2345 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Tennessee's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

19 benefits

Property tax

  • Certain disabilities

    Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans

    Tennessee reimburses all or part of local property taxes on the primary residence of a qualifying disabled veteran. Surviving spouses may also qualify. The county still bills the full tax, and the state pays back the qualifying portion.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). TN veteran with paraplegia/permanent paralysis, legal blindness, loss/loss of use of two or more limbs, a service-connected permanent and total disability, or 100% P&T disability from POW status; must own and use property as primary residence; no dishonorable discharge.
    paraplegia/permanent paralysis, legal blindness, loss/loss of use of two or more limbs, or 100% P&T disability from POW status (or standard service-connected permanent and total disability)
    How to apply
    Apply and refile annually through your county Trustee's office with VA disability documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Property Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans

    Tennessee keeps paying property tax relief to the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible when they died. The relief is based on up to the first $100,000 of the home's market value. It ends if the spouse remarries.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for disabled veterans' property tax relief at the time of death; spouse must not remarry, must solely or jointly own the property, and must use it exclusively as a home
    How to apply
    Contact your county trustee's office to apply for the benefit
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    No State Income Tax on Military Retirement or VA Benefits

    Tennessee levies no state income tax on wages, retirement pay, or any other income, so military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are not taxed by the state. The former Hall tax on interest/dividends was fully repealed.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies automatically to all Tennessee residents; no rating, age, or income threshold applies.
    How to apply
    No application or state individual income tax return is required.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 100% P&T

    County Motor Vehicle Privilege Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

    Exempts qualifying 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, and former prisoners of war, from the county motor vehicle privilege tax (commonly called the wheel tax).

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Disabled veteran with a 100% permanent, total, service-connected disability, or a former prisoner of war, upon submission of evidence of disability.
    How to apply
    Submit VA evidence of disability to the county official responsible for collecting the motor vehicle privilege tax.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Free Disabled Veteran License Plate

    Tennessee issues a free disabled veteran memorial license plate for a vehicle owned or leased by a qualifying disabled veteran. You don't pay the standard registration fees. A Purple Heart plate may be chosen instead under the same eligibility rules.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Tennessee resident disabled veteran who is entitled under state law, including veterans with a service-connected disability determined by the VA to constitute a 100 percent permanent total disability.
    How to apply
    Apply through your county clerk's vehicle services office; VA documentation required.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Sales Tax Exemption for Adaptive Equipment and VA-Grant Vehicles

    Exempts from sales and use tax any adaptive equipment sold, given, or donated to a disabled veteran to safely operate a vehicle, and exempts vehicles purchased using a VA automobile grant from sales tax, registration fee, and local privilege tax on the portion above the grant.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Honorably discharged veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability for adaptive equipment; veteran/active-duty member who receives a VA automobile grant for the vehicle exemption.
    How to apply
    Present VA documentation of disability or automobile grant to the seller or county clerk at time of purchase/registration.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver License or Photo ID

    Honorably discharged veterans can obtain a driver license or photo ID card bearing a special veteran designation recognizing their military service, issued at any driver services center.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
    How to apply
    Visit a driver services center (or county clerk partner for renewals/duplicates) and present a certified or original DD-214; standard license fees apply.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Tennessee provides free Gold Star Family license plates for spouses, parents, siblings, and children of service members who died in the line of duty or from injuries sustained while serving. The plate is available for passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a service member who died in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or as a result of injuries received while serving; requires DD1300 Report of Casualty
    How to apply
    Contact your county clerk's office with proper application and DD1300 Report of Casualty documentation
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 30%+

    Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing License

    Provides a low-cost, permanent combined hunting and fishing license for disabled Tennessee resident veterans, covering base hunting and fishing privileges for life.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 30% or higher. Tennessee resident who is 100% permanent and totally disabled from a service-connected cause, or who by reason of service in any war is 30% or more disabled.
    How to apply
    Submit the TWRA Miscellaneous Licenses Application with VA certification of disability by mail, email, or fax to TWRA.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Free Veterans Day Camping and Golf at State Parks

    On Veterans Day each year, Tennessee resident veterans get one free night of camping and one complimentary round of golf at Tennessee State Parks.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Tennessee resident veteran; must show proof of veteran status.
    How to apply
    Call the park reservation line to claim the free camping night; contact the golf course directly for the complimentary round.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Tennessee State Parks Veteran Discounts

    Tennessee resident veterans receive discounted camping, cabin, and golf rates year-round, with deeper discounts in the off-season and for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Tennessee resident veteran; higher discount tier requires 100% service-connected disability rating; proof of residency and veteran status required.
    What you get at each level
    • Standard discounted camping, cabin, and golf rates for Tennessee resident veterans
    • Deeper discount for veterans with 100% service-connected disability rating
    How to apply
    Provide proof of TN residency and veteran status (driver's license, DD-214, or VA benefit card) when booking online or at the park.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Helping Heroes Grant

    A lottery-funded grant that helps honorably discharged post-9/11 veterans and current/former Guard or Reserve members pay for tuition and related costs at Tennessee institutions of higher education.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veteran or current/former member of a reserve or TN National Guard unit called to active service, awarded a qualifying campaign medal on or after 9/11/2001; enrolled seeking an associate's or bachelor's degree.
    How to apply
    Apply each academic year through the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation online application; mail/fax DD-214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Tuition Waiver for Dependents of POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans

    Waives tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, and registration/matriculation fees at Tennessee public colleges for dependent children or spouses of veterans killed, who died of service-connected injuries, or who were POW/MIA during a qualifying armed conflict.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Dependent child under 23 years of age, or spouse, whose veteran parent was killed, died from service injuries, or was reported POW/MIA while serving honorably during a qualifying period of armed conflict; parent must have been a TN resident at time of death.
    How to apply
    Present required certification (from U.S. government or DD-214) to the institution's admissions/financial aid office; notice published in institutional catalogs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    State Employment Veterans' Preference

    Tennessee gives hiring preference to qualified veterans applying for state government jobs and guarantees an interview to veterans who meet minimum qualifications for open preferred-service positions.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans (and in some cases spouses/surviving spouses of disabled veterans) who meet minimum qualifications for open state preferred-service positions; documentation such as a DD-214 required.
    How to apply
    Apply for open state positions and indicate veteran status/submit DD-214 through the state jobs portal.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Ready Business Recognition Program

    A state recognition program (Bronze, Silver, Gold tiers) for Tennessee businesses that actively recruit, hire, and retain service members, veterans, and military families, offering public recognition and a listing in the TDVS business directory.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Tennessee business in good standing that meets tier-specific commitments to recruiting/retaining veterans and military family members.
    How to apply
    Submit an application through the online VRBP portal with a narrative on SMVF support; awards effective the following January 1.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran-Owned Small Business Access to Federal Surplus Property

    Certified Veteran Owned Small Businesses can access Tennessee's federal surplus property program to purchase useful surplus items at reduced cost through the Department of General Services.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Certified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) operating in Tennessee.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Tennessee Department of General Services surplus property program.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Burial in Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries

    Tennessee operates four State Veterans Cemeteries offering burial for eligible veterans at no charge and eligible dependents at no cost, with pre-registration available.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Includes veterans who died on active duty, those discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, and Reserve/Guard members with qualifying service; recently expanded to those who served honorably in a reserve component, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard for at least eight years collectively, or who were called to service under state orders.
    How to apply
    Pre-register online at the desired cemetery and mail the veteran's DD-214 (or NG Form 22) plus marriage certificate for spouse burial requests.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Tennessee State Veterans' Homes

    State-affiliated skilled nursing facilities providing long-term care to eligible veterans, with space-available admission for spouses and Gold Star parents. Independent of the federal VA but coordinates on eligibility and payment.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces who needs a skilled level of care; must meet a Tennessee connection requirement (residency, home of record, or caregiver residency); spouses/Gold Star parents admitted space-available.
    How to apply
    Contact the admissions department of the desired Tennessee State Veterans' Home location; submit DD-214 prior to admission.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Unclaimed Veteran Remains Program

    A formal TDVS partnership with Tennessee funeral directors to ensure unclaimed veteran remains receive military honors and burial with dignity in a State Veterans Cemetery.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Deceased veteran for whom there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body and who lacks sufficient resources for a casket or urn for burial in a national cemetery.
    How to apply
    Funeral directors coordinate with TDVS under the department's standard operating procedure for unclaimed veteran remains.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.