Veterans with 100% permanent service-connected disability or unemployability, service-connected blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs may apply for exemption from property taxes based on their financial need. Every five years, the State Veterans’ Commission is required to review all “determinations of need” for property tax exemptions. This review allows the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to verify that the qualifying family still resides at the property for which the credit was awarded and that their financial needs are still substantial. However, this review can place an unnecessary burden on families as these veterans or their widows must also resubmit paperwork every five years to re-certify their need.
 
It is time we provide some relief for our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. For this reason, I will be introducing legislation to change the standards for this tax break. Under my bill, the length of review that the State Veterans’ Commission is required to conduct for disabled veterans’ “determination of need” for property tax exemptions will be extended from every five years to every 10 years. Extending the review period to 10 years would require the reviews to occur less often and therefore reduce the overall paperwork needed, while still maintaining the integrity of the program for the families who need it the most.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to provide more ease to our disabled veterans and their families when recertifying their needs for property tax exemptions.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3638: 51-8904(3)