FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE
Additional Benefits For Utah Veterans
Utah Veterans and their families may qualify for valuable state benefits that can lower property taxes, reduce higher-education costs, and make buying a home more affordable. Understanding the Utah disabled Veteran benefits available to you—from property tax exemptions to tuition waivers and homebuyer assistance—can help you make the most of the benefits you’ve earned through military service.
Tax Relief
Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans in Utah
- Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% can receive a property tax exemption. Utah's Veterans with a Disability Exemption reduces the taxable value of a qualifying Veteran's primary residence based on the Veteran's disability percentage and unemployability classification. For 2026, the maximum exemption is $535,459 of taxable value, with a qualifying Veteran's exemption prorated according to disability.
- The exemption can also protect other qualifying property and surviving family members. Utah allows the disabled Veteran exemption to apply to certain tangible personal property, including motor vehicles. An eligible Veteran's unmarried surviving spouse or minor orphans may also qualify for the exemption. Applications and supporting military/disability documentation are filed with the county where the property is located.
Family Tuition Assistance
Education Benefits for Utah Veterans & Families
- Utah Purple Heart recipients can receive tuition waivers at public colleges and universities. Qualifying Utah resident Veterans who received a Purple Heart can have undergraduate tuition waived at Utah institutions of higher education when pursuing an eligible degree or certificate. Utah also provides a graduate tuition waiver subject to separate statutory limits and eligibility requirements. The waiver covers tuition but does not cover fees.
- Surviving dependents of qualifying military members can receive an undergraduate tuition waiver. Utah's Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors' Tuition Waiver provides undergraduate tuition waivers at Utah public higher-education institutions for eligible surviving dependents of qualifying Utah military members who were killed while serving on qualifying active duty or died from wounds or injuries received during that service. The waiver applies to qualifying courses toward a degree or certificate but does not cover fees, books, or housing.
Home Financing
Home Loan Benefits for Utah Veterans
- Eligible Veterans and service members may qualify for a $2,500 first-time homebuyer grant. The Utah Veteran First-Time Homebuyer Grant provides $2,500 toward the purchase of a qualifying home in Utah. Eligibility generally includes Veterans separated within the previous five years or current Active Duty, Reserve, or Guard members who are eligible for a VA Home Loan Certificate of Eligibility and are first-time homebuyers in Utah.
- The grant can work with VA and other qualifying mortgage programs. Utah Housing Corporation's program guidelines allow the Veteran grant to be used with qualifying mortgage products including VA, FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac loans. The Veteran must use the property as their primary residence, and owning a home in another state doesn't necessarily disqualify them from being considered a first-time Utah homebuyer.
Sources
- Utah State Tax Commission — Property Tax Relief / Publication 36
- Utah State Tax Commission — Property Tax Relief
- Utah Legislature — Current Utah Code, Purple Heart Tuition Waivers
- Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs — First-Time Homebuyer Grant
- Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs — Housing Benefits