Veteran Benefits for Iowa

• Iowa Taxes on Military Pay: Military pay received by Service members serving on active duty is not taxed in Iowa.
• Iowa Taxes on Military Retired Pay: Military retired pay, which is included in federal gross income, is exempt from Iowa income tax.

  Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) does not withhold taxes for state or local income tax, but it is reported annually on IRS Form 1099-R. All TSP distributions are subject to state taxes, and early distributions may incur higher taxes.

• Iowa Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Military Disability Retirement Pay:  Military Disability Retirement Pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments that are considered disability benefits include:
  • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to Veterans or their Families
  • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
  • Grants for motor vehicles for Veterans who lost their sight or the use of limbs or
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program
• Iowa State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):  DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) is a non-taxable financial support provided to qualifying survivors of Service members who lost their lives in the line of duty or to eligible survivors of Veterans whose death was a result of a service-connected injury or illness.
• Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Iowa State Tax Benefits: SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Iowa.
• Iowa Military Student Loan Income Tax Exemption:  Iowa income tax does not apply to military student loan repayments included in federal adjusted gross income for active and reserve component Service members who are in active duty status.
• Iowa Tax Exclusion for Withdrawals from Retirement Plans for Reserve Component Service Members Called to Active Duty:  National Guard Service members activated for federal or state active duty and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members mobilized for federal active duty have the option to withdraw funds from a qualified retirement account without incurring Iowa state income tax or state tax penalties, although federal taxes will still be applicable.
• Forgiveness of Iowa Income Tax for Deceased Service Members and those Missing and Presumed Dead:  Iowa income tax is not owed if a Service member’s federal income taxes were forgiven because of one of the following circumstances:
  • A Service member was killed in a combat zone
  • The Service member is missing in action and presumed dead
  • Service member was killed outside the U.S. due to a terrorist act or military action

  Single Status: Iowa income tax is forgiven for the tax year the Service member was killed or was declared missing and presumed dead and for the tax year prior to the year of death.

  Married / Year of Death: If the Service member was married at the time of death, all tax is forgiven for the year of death if the filing status is joint or married filing separately on the combined return for that tax year.

  Married / Prior Year:  In cases where a Service member was married at the time of their death, and a joint return or a married filing separate return was filed for the year before their passing, all taxes are forgiven. However, it’s important to note that if the deceased had previously filed using the married filing separate status on a combined return, only the state income tax pertaining to the deceased Service member is exempt from taxation. It’s also worth mentioning that prior-year returns cannot be altered to modify the filing status.

• Iowa Income Tax Exclusion for Combat Pay and Extension to File: Military pay received by a resident Service member for active duty service in a combat zone or hazardous duty area, which is already excluded from their federal adjusted gross income, is likewise not subject to Iowa income tax.

  Service members are granted a 180-day window from their return from a combat zone or from their release from hospitalization due to combat zone-related injuries to file their state income taxes.

• Iowa Military Property Tax Exemption: The Iowa Military Property Tax exemption reduces a Veteran’s assessed home value for property taxes.

  Who is eligible for Iowa Military Property Tax Exemption? To be eligible for the Iowa Military Property Tax Exemption, the applicant must be an Iowa resident and meet the following requirements:

  • Honorably discharged Veteran who served a minimum of 18 months or served less than 18 months and discharged, due to a service-connected injury,
  • Former or Current Service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves or Iowa National Guard who served at least 20 years
  • Service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves or Iowa National Guard who served on federal active duty (not for training) for a minimum of 90 days
  • Former reserve component Service member whose enlistment would have occurred during the Korean Conflict but chose to serve five years in a reserve component
  • Honorably discharged Veterans who served during a qualifying period of service (refer to the application for a list of qualifying periods of service)
  • A family member of an eligible Veteran:
    • Spouse
    • Surviving spouse
    • Minor child
    • Widowed parent
• Iowa Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit: Iowa extends a 100% property tax credit to homesteads owned by eligible Veterans and the Surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran. To qualify, the Veteran must own and reside in the property as their homestead on July 1 each year, declare Iowa as their state of residency for income tax purposes, and occupy the property for at least six months annually. This exemption also applies to Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and nursing home residents who do not reside in the home.

  The maximum allowable property size for this exemption is 1/2 acre, encompassing both the home and its outbuildings if the property is located within a city limit. For properties situated outside city limits, the maximum size increases to 40 acres, inclusive of the house and any outbuildings.

• Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA): Under the MSRRA and Iowa law, a nonresident Service member’s spouse’s income from wages, salaries, tips, etc., may be excluded from Iowa income tax if they meet the following requirements:
  • Service member spouse is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and is in Iowa in compliance with their orders
  • The spouse is in Iowa only to be with the Service member
  • The spouse has the same state of residence as the Service member

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 6.0%
• Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 1.0%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 6.94%

Recreation

• Iowa Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License for Resident Disabled Veterans or Prisoners of War:  Resident Veterans who have been awarded at least a 0% service-connected disability rating by the VA or were former prisoners of war can receive a lifetime hunting or fishing license for $7.
• Iowa Hunting and Fishing License Exemption for Resident Service Members on Leave: Resident Service members currently on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, taking leave from a duty station located outside Iowa, are entitled to hunt or fish without the need for a license. To do so, Service members should have their leave documents and a copy of their Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), which confirms a tax deduction for Iowa income taxes, with them while engaging in hunting or fishing activities.
• Nonresident Service Members Can Purchase Iowa Hunting Licenses at Resident Prices:  Active duty nonresident Service members can purchase Iowa Hunting licenses for resident prices.

Military & Miscellaneous Benefits

• Iowa Veterans Trust Fund: The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund provides financial assistance to Veterans and their Families.

  Benefits available:

  • Travel – for wounded Veterans directly related to follow-up medical care – up to $1,000
  • Unemployment Assistance – due to prolonged physical, mental condition or disability causing their unemployment – $3,000 in a twelve-month period, with a lifetime maximum of $6,000
  • Job Training or Education Assistance – lifetime maximum of $5,000
  • Individual or Family Counseling – up to $5,000 in a 12-month period
  • Dental – up to $ 10,000-lifetime maximum
  • Audiology – up to $1,500 for each ear in a 12-month period
  • Emergency Housing Repairs – up to $ 10,000-lifetime maximum
  • Emergency Vehicle Repairs – up to $5,000 on one-time use
  • Emergency Room care – lifetime maximum of $7,500
  • Durable Medical Equipment – $5,000 in a 12-month period, lifetime maximum benefit of $10,000
• Who is eligible for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund? Iowa resident Veterans who received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces after completing a minimum of 90 days of active duty service (other than for training), their spouse, and dependents are eligible for financial assistance through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. The Veteran’s income must not be more than 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Funds can be used for assistance such as:
  • Unemployment or underemployment issued due to service-related causes
  • Vision, hearing, or dental care
  • Durable medical equipment
  • Prescription drugs
  • Counseling and substance abuse services
  • Vehicle repairs
  • Housing repair
  • Emergency transitional housing
• Iowa Injured Veterans Grant Program:  The Iowa Injured Veterans Grant Program offers financial aid of up to $10,000 to Service members who have suffered injuries or discharged Veterans, enabling their Family members to be with them during the recovery process. The treatment or services must be administered at a facility other than the Service member’s or Veteran’s designated home of record.

  The grants are distributed by the IDVA in four installments of $2,500 each, with a maximum total allocation of $10,000, following this structure:

  • $2,500– When medically evacuated from a combat zone following a combat-related injury
  • $2,500– 30 days after evacuation date if still hospitalized, receiving medical treatment or rehabilitation services by the military or VA, this does not include follow-up appointments
  • $2,500– 60 days after evacuation date if still hospitalized, receiving medical treatment or rehabilitation services by the military or the VA, this does not include follow-up appointments
  • $2,500 – 90 days after evacuation date if still hospitalized, receiving medical treatment or rehabilitation services by the military or the VA, this does not include follow-up appointments

  Who is eligible for the Iowa Injured Veterans Grant Program? To be eligible for assistance, the Service member or Veteran must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Iowa resident who is or was a member of an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces who served on active duty at any time after September 11, 2001, and if discharged or released, it must have been under honorable conditions, or
  • A nonresident of Iowa who is or was a member of the Iowa National Guard who served on active duty at any time after September 11, 2001, and if discharged, it must have been under honorable conditions

  In addition, an eligible Service member or Veteran must meet all the following conditions:

  • Received a combat-related injury in a combat zone or hostile fire zone
  • Combat-related injury must have been serious enough to require medical evacuation from the combat zone to a military hospital or the injury required at least 30 consecutive days of hospitalization at a military hospital
  • Combat-related injury must have been received in the line of duty
  • The Veteran will remain eligible for the grant after discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces so long as they continue to receive medical treatment or rehabilitation services for the specific injury or illness.

 

Education Programs

• Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship (INGSS):  The Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship (INGSS) bestows annual awards upon Iowa National Guard Service members enrolled in eligible Iowa colleges and universities. INGSS is compatible with other federally funded programs, such as Federal Student Aid, Federal Tuition Assistance, and GI Bill programs.

  INGSS can cover educational expenses for up to 120 credit hours or the equivalent, or until the Service member attains a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. In instances where the Service member is pursuing a qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree, exceptions may permit support for up to 130 credit hours.

  The maximum award amount will not surpass 100% of the Iowa Board of Regents resident tuition rate or 100% of the tuition rate at the institution the Service member attends, whichever amount is lower.

• Iowa War Orphans Tuition Assistance:  Iowa extends tuition assistance for the Children of resident Service members who lost their lives while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or due to service-related causes. Children of Service members who sacrificed their lives before September 11, 2001, can receive $600 annually, with a maximum benefit capped at $3,000. For those Children who lost their parent after September 11, 2001, they are eligible for tuition assistance of up to $11,844 per year.

  It’s important to note that the availability of the War Orphans Fund is contingent on the Child’s ineligibility for Federal VA educational benefits.

• Iowa Operation Recognition, High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans:  The Iowa Operation Recognition Program is dedicated to granting honorary high school diplomas to qualified Veterans who were unable to finish high school in Iowa because they enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces. These honorary diplomas may also be awarded posthumously.

  Who is eligible for the Iowa Operation Recognition High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans? Honorably dischargedIowa Veterans who served during the following time periods are eligible:

  • April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918 (World War I)
  • September 16, 1940, through December 31, 1946 (World War II)
  • June 25, 1950, through January 31, 1955 (Korean Conflict)
  • February 28, 1961, through May 5, 1975 (Vietnam Conflict)
• Branstad-Reynolds, Children of Fallen Iowa Service Members Scholarship Fund: The Branstad-Reynolds Scholarship fund provides post-secondary educational scholarships for Children of Service members who died while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces after September 11, 2001.

  Scholarships can be applied towards covering expenses such as tuition, textbooks, fees, housing, necessary tools and equipment for coursework, school-approved tutoring, and any other obligatory educational costs. Once all educational expenses have been addressed, any surplus funds are made available to the student to address other financial needs. It’s important to note that this program is funded by the state and can be combined with any federal benefits.

• Iowa Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on Children of military Families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:
  • Facilitating the prompt enrollment of Children of military Families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements
  • Facilitating the student placement process through which Children of military Families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities
  • Facilitating the on-time graduation of Children of military Families
  • Providing for the enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact
  • Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools, and military Families under this compact
  • Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military Children
  • Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Iowa State Veterans Home at West Marshalltown

Eligibility for admission:

• Veterans must be honorably discharged
• Spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents of Veterans are also eligible
• Monthly costs are based on the need of the Veteran

Who is eligible for care at the Iowa Veterans Home?  Iowa residents who are honorably discharged Veterans, as well as their Spouse, Surviving Spouses, and Gold Star parents in need of nursing or residential care, qualify for admission to the Iowa Veterans Home.

For Spouses, the requirement is a minimum of one year of marriage to a Veteran before the application date. Surviving Spouses must have been married to the Veteran for at least one year before the Veteran’s date of passing.

Gold Star parents are defined as the parents of a U.S. Armed Forces Service member who lost their life while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during a period of military conflict or due to service-related circumstances.

Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference

• Iowa State Employee Paid Leave for Military Duty: Non-temporary state employees who are Service members in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces who are ordered to duty are eligible for paid leave for 30 workdays each calendar year.
• Iowa Workforce Development, Veterans Employment Services:  Iowa Workforce Development through the Iowa Works Centers offers services that connect Veterans, transitioning Service members, and eligible Family members with resources and career opportunities. Veteran Career Planners, who are also Veterans, coordinate all services provided to eligible applicants within the Iowa WORKS system. Some of the services provided are:
  • Comprehensive assessment of job skills
  • Develop an individual employment plan
  • Conduct career planning services
  • Develop job interviewing and resume writing skills
  • Help place eligible Veterans in federally-funded employment and training programs
  • Monitor job listings from federal agencies and federal contractors to ensure Veterans get priority service in referral to these jobs
  • Provide additional assistance to meet the employment needs of eligible Veterans
• Iowa State Employment Veteran Hiring Preference:  Iowa provides a hiring preference for Veterans in state employment. Veterans receive an additional five percentage points when passing examinations for job selection. If a Veteran has a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability benefits, or a pension from the VA, an extra five percentage points are added to their examination score. These Veterans Preference points contribute to ranking applicants for interview selection. It’s important to note that this preference does not apply to promotions or appointments of chiefs in police or fire departments.
• Federal Employment Veteran’s Hiring Preferences:  Federal law mandates that Veterans, especially those with disabilities or those who served during specific time periods or in military campaigns, are granted preference over non-veterans when it comes to Federal civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. In various scoring processes for examinations and interviews, Veterans may be eligible for an additional 5 or 10 points.

  5-point Hiring Preference: Five points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served:

  • During a war, or
  • During the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955, or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976, or
  • During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or
  • In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference

  10-point Compensable Disability (CP) Preference:  Ten points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.

  10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

  10-Point Disability Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of:

  • A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the VA but does not qualify as a CP or CPS, or
  • Veteran who received a Purple Heart

  10-Point Derived Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of Spouses, Surviving Spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a Spouse (including a Surviving Spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran’s service if they both meet the requirements. However, neither may receive preference if the Veteran is living and is qualified for Federal employment.

  Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of the Spouse of a disabled Veteran who is disqualified for a federal position along the general lines of their usual occupation because of a service-connected disability. Such a disqualification may be presumed when the Veteran is unemployed and:

  • Is rated by appropriate military or VA authorities to be 100% disabled and/or unemployable, or
  • Has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position because of a disability that is service-connected in origin, or
  • Has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of their usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability

  Preference may be allowed in other circumstances but anything less than the above warrants a more careful analysis.

  A campaign medal holder or Gulf War Veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligible Veterans separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to Veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under Title 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.

  Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of reserve components. USERRA also protects Service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.

  Absence from Work for Military Duty: USERRA establishes the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and retain reemployment rights for five years. Exceptions to the five-year limit, include initial enlistments lasting more than five years, periodic National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve training duty, and involuntary active duty extensions and recalls, especially during a time of national emergency. USERRA establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual’s service if the basic eligibility criteria are met.

  Disability Accommodation: USERRA provides protection for disabled Veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.

  Return to Work without Loss of Seniority:  USERRA provides that returning Service members are reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status, and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning Service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, they are deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence and are entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded to other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.

  Extension of Health and Pension Plans: Health and pension plan coverage for Service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the Service member had remained employed. USERRA clarifies pension plan coverage by making explicit that all pension plans are protected.

  Who is eligible for USERRA Benefits? Veterans, U.S. Armed Forces Reserve or National Guard Service members who leave a position for training or active military service are eligible.

  The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), helps all who have claims under USERRA, including Federal and Postal Service employees.

• Home Base Iowa Program: Home Base Iowa serves as a bridge connecting Iowa businesses with qualified Veterans and their Spouses in search of career opportunities. Additionally, the program offers valuable resources to facilitate the transition of Veterans and their Families to new communities by providing access to higher education institutions. The website showcases job listings, access to job fairs, and current updates regarding educational prospects, National Guard recruitment, vocational training, and a wealth of other pertinent information.
• Iowa Hilton Honors Military Program: The Iowa Hilton Honors Military Program is designed to facilitate transition from military service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian employment for current and former Service members. This program offers hotel accommodations to individuals during essential travel related to their job search, job training, or housing search. Eligible participants can receive a maximum of 100,000 hotel points for documented employment-related engagements.

Burials and Memorials

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) pays tribute to eligible Veterans and their family members by providing a final resting place and a lasting memorial to commemorate the Veteran’s dedicated service to the nation.

The burial benefits encompass a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also meet the criteria for a burial allowance. Cremated remains are interred or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors and respect as casketed remains.

Burial benefits extend to eligible spouses and dependents, including burial alongside the Veteran and perpetual care of the interment site. The name and relevant dates of birth and death of the spouse or dependent are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense to the family. Importantly, spouses and qualified dependents are eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran and are not required to be interred in the same national cemetery as the Veteran.

National Cemeteries include:

Davenport: Oakdale Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot

Keokuk: Keokuk National Cemetery

Iowa VA Benefit Resources

Iowa provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.

Iowa VA Regional Benefits Office

• Des Moines: Des Moines Regional Office

Iowa VA Medical Centers

• Des Moines: VA Central Iowa Health Care System
• Iowa City: Iowa City VA Health Care System

Important information for Iowa Veteran Benefits:

For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, along with your full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.

You should always keep your paperwork, along with your medical records, in a safe place where you and your family can have access to them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.
Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions.

Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.

*This information is accurate as of October 2023

Iowa Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in Iowa and are VA rated 90% or less, you may be eligible for additional benefits. Contact Veterans Guardian for a free consultation with no obligation. Let us review your claim to determine whether you qualify for additional benefits.