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Utah Veteran benefits

22 benefits from Utah 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 Utah

Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 801-326-2372 State agency website

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

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

22 benefits

Property tax

  • No rating needed

    Active/Reserve Duty Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption

    Provides a property tax exemption on the primary residence of an active or reserve component service member who is deployed outside Utah on qualifying active duty for a set number of days.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Service member must perform at least 200 days of active duty military service outside Utah, regardless of whether consecutive, within a continuous 365-day period, and be property owner of record.
    How to apply
    File an application with supporting military orders with the county where the property is located; must reapply each qualifying year.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Veteran Armed Forces (Disabled Veteran) Property Tax Exemption

    Reduces the taxable value of a disabled veteran's primary residence or qualifying personal property based on the veteran's VA disability percentage. The maximum exemptable amount is set in law and rises each year with inflation.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Utah resident veteran with a service-connected disability, or the unmarried surviving spouse or minor orphan of a disabled veteran or of a veteran killed in action or who died in the line of duty.
    How to apply
    File proof of military service and your disability rating with the county assessor or auditor where the property is, by the deadline in state law. Rules for reapplying vary by county.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Military Retirement Pay

    Utah provides a nonrefundable income tax credit that offsets the state tax owed on military retirement pay, including survivor benefit payments, effectively eliminating state tax on this income for most recipients.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Any claimant who receives military retirement pay (including certain survivor benefits) included in federal adjusted gross income; may not also claim the general Retirement Credit in the same year.
    How to apply
    Claim the credit on Utah form TC-40A when filing the state individual income tax return.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Combat-Related Death Income Tax Credit

    Allows a state income tax credit to be claimed on the final tax return of a U.S. Armed Forces member who died as a result of military service in a combat zone.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to the final Utah income tax return filed on behalf of a service member whose death resulted from service in a combat zone.
    How to apply
    Claim the credit on the decedent's final Utah individual income tax return per instructions in Tax Commission Publication 57.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veteran License Plate

    A special group license plate recognizing Utah resident veterans with any percentage of service-connected disability, issued for a one-time plate fee with no annual contribution.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Utah resident veteran with documented service-connected disability of any percentage, verified by UDVMA, the VA, or a U.S. military entity; transferable to an unremarried surviving spouse.
    How to apply
    Order online, by mail, or at any DMV office with a letter from UDVMA or a military entity certifying disability status and pay the special plate fee.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart License Plate Fee Exemption

    Purple Heart recipients qualify for a special group license plate and are exempt from the associated license plate application and renewal fees, though standard registration and property tax fees still apply.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicant must provide a Military Order of the Purple Heart membership card or a DD-214 showing receipt of the Purple Heart.
    How to apply
    Apply at any DMV office or online with proof of Purple Heart award; standard vehicle registration fees are still owed.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Indicator on Driver License or ID Card

    Utah Veterans can add a Veteran indicator to their driver license or state ID card. It puts proof of your service on the card you already carry.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. You must be at least 21 years old and show proof of an honorable discharge from the U.S. military.
    How to apply
    Apply in person at a Utah Driver License Division office. It cannot be added during an online renewal. Bring your DD214. World War II Veterans can bring a Record or Notice of Separation.
    Official page

    Last checked October 7, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Special honor license plate available to recipients of Gold Star award issued by U.S. Secretary of Defense, honoring families of military members killed while serving in U.S. Armed Forces. Plate may be personalized and is available for vehicles and motorcycles.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Recipient of Gold Star award issued by U.S. Secretary of Defense for family member killed while serving in U.S. Armed Forces.
    How to apply
    Submit documentation (document showing death classification, casualty report, telegram from Secretary of Defense, or other verification of Gold Star award) to Utah DMV. Can order online at Utah Motor Vehicle Portal, by mail, or at DMV office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 20%+

    Discounted Hunting, Fishing, or Combination License for Disabled Veterans

    Utah resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 20% or greater can purchase a discounted hunting, fishing, or combination license, and automatically qualify for the discount on renewal.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 20% or higher. Utah resident with a service-connected disability rating of 20% or higher, verified by an official VA or military letter, statement, or card.
    How to apply
    Apply online through the Utah DWR website with disability verification, then purchase the discounted license from DWR or an authorized license agent.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Veterans With Disabilities Honor Pass

    Offers qualifying disabled veterans a free annual pass for day-use entry at Utah state parks, covering the veteran and up to seven guests riding in the same vehicle.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Utah resident veteran, honorably discharged, with a current service-related disability verified by a summary of benefits letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (any disability percentage qualifies).
    How to apply
    The pass is being updated in 2026. For now, show your VA benefits letter and proof of Utah residency at the park for free day-use entry. A 2025 pass is still good in 2026. Passes usually run through the end of the year issued.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart Recipients' Tuition Waiver

    Utah public colleges and universities waive undergraduate tuition (not fees) for Purple Heart recipients. Graduate tuition can also be waived, up to $15,000 in total, until the degree is finished or for five years after acceptance into the graduate program, whichever comes first.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Utah resident veteran who received the Purple Heart, admitted to an undergraduate or graduate program at a state institution, with verification from the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
    How to apply
    Request verification of Purple Heart status from the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and submit it to the institution's veterans/financial aid office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans Tuition Gap Program

    Helps qualifying military veterans cover remaining tuition costs for a bachelor's degree at a Utah state institution after federal education benefits have been exhausted or no longer apply.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Utah resident-student veteran accepted and enrolled in a bachelor's degree program who has exhausted, or no longer qualifies for, federal veterans' education benefits and has not completed the degree.
    How to apply
    Contact the veterans services office at the Utah state institution where enrolled to apply for gap funding.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Resident Tuition Status for Veterans and Immediate Family

    Grants Utah resident tuition status to military veterans, regardless of where they served, and to their immediate family members, if the veteran relinquishes residency elsewhere and shows intent to reside in Utah.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran with an honorable or general discharge (and immediate family: spouse or dependent child) who signs a declaration relinquishing other-state residency and provides objective evidence of establishing Utah residency.
    How to apply
    Submit discharge documentation (DD-214), a signed residency declaration, and supporting evidence to the admitting institution's residency office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver

    Waives undergraduate tuition at Utah state institutions for the surviving spouse and dependents of a Utah-resident service member who was killed or died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse or dependent of a service member who died in the line of duty or of wounds/injuries received on federal or state active duty; undergraduate study only.
    How to apply
    After the surviving spouse or dependent is accepted at a Utah public college or university, the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs certifies eligibility to the institution.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Accelerated Credentialing to Employment (ACE) Program

    Helps Utah veterans, actively drilling Guard/Reserve members, and their spouses translate military training and experience into civilian certificates or licenses through short-term training assistance.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Utah veterans, members of the active components, actively drilling members of the Guard and Reserve, and the spouses of these individuals who are seeking employment credentials.
    How to apply
    Contact the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or a Veteran Service Officer to apply for ACE Program assistance.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Employment Opportunity Program (VEOP)

    Allows qualified veterans to be hired into designated state career-service positions through an on-the-job trial period in place of the standard competitive hiring process.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans who meet the state's veterans' preference criteria (such as sufficient active duty service, disability status, or Purple Heart) and opt into the program with a DD-214 uploaded to their application.
    How to apply
    Opt into VEOP when applying for an eligible state job posting and upload your DD-214; hiring officials may separately interview and hire opted-in veterans for a trial period.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Preference in State Employment

    Utah awards hiring preference points to veterans, service members, and their spouses applying for state government jobs, boosting their score in the hiring process.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans/service members receive preference points; disabled veterans or Purple Heart recipients receive a larger preference; spouses or surviving spouses receive the same percentage as the qualifying veteran.
    What you get at each level
    • Standard veteran preference points
    • Larger preference for disabled veterans or Purple Heart recipients
    How to apply
    Confirm veteran status when applying for a state position and upload a DD-214, NGB22, DD256, VA status letter, or equivalent documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Utah Veteran-Owned Business Registry

    A state registry that lists businesses with any level of veteran ownership after the state verifies the owner's veteran status and the business's license, helping veteran-owned businesses gain visibility.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Any business with veteran ownership and a valid business license may register; there is no minimum ownership percentage requirement stated.
    How to apply
    Register online through the Utah Veteran-Owned Business Registry portal; UDVMA verifies veteran status and the Veteran Business Resource Center verifies the business license.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Department of Defense provides ceremonial military funeral honors for eligible deceased veterans upon family request, including flag folding, Taps, and honor guard. Can be arranged through funeral directors or directly with Utah Veterans Cemetery.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligible deceased veterans and service members who did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
    How to apply
    Funeral home directors request on behalf of veteran's family, or arrangements made directly with Utah Veterans Cemetery or Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Utah State Veterans Homes

    Utah operates state veterans nursing homes providing long-term skilled nursing care, overseen by the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs through a contracted private operator.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans who served on active duty or deployed while serving in the reserves, and their eligible spouses, may be admitted based on care needs.
    How to apply
    Contact the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or the specific veterans home directly to begin the admissions process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Utah Veteran First-Time Homebuyer Grant

    Provides eligible veterans and service members up to a set cash grant, which does not need to be repaid, toward the purchase of a first home in Utah through a participating lender. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans separated from service within the last five years, or current Active Duty, Reserve, or Guard members eligible for a VA Certificate of Eligibility, who are first-time Utah homebuyers.
    How to apply
    Obtain UDVMA certification of eligibility, then work with a participating lender to reserve grant funds through Utah Housing Corporation before closing on the home.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park Burial

    A state-operated cemetery in Bluffdale offering an honored burial ground for veterans, their spouses, and dependent children, with military funeral honors arrangements available.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans with qualifying military discharge paperwork (DD-214), plus their spouses and dependent children.
    How to apply
    Have your chosen mortuary submit the veteran's DD-214 to the cemetery and contact the cemetery directly to reserve a burial date and time.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Also check

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