IDAHO MILITARY LICENSE PLATE

Gold Star License Plates are available for spouses, parents, and other immediate family members of military service members killed during active military service in a period of war recognized by the United States Congress. Surviving spouses and parents of deceased service members will not pay the specialty plate fees for gold star plates. A portion of the fees paid by other qualifying relatives will be used to defray the costs of administering the issuance of the plates at the Department of Transportation and the Division of Veterans Services. Any remaining fees will be used to provide support programs for veterans.

IDAHO VETERAN’S EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT

Grant for emergency financial relief for Idaho Veterans.

IDAHO VETERANS’ RECOGNITION FUND

The Idaho Veterans Recognition Fund is a grant program that allocates funds solely to benefit veterans in Idaho, with priority given to activities that serve disabled veterans. The Idaho Veterans Recognition Fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature. The Idaho Veterans Recognition Fund Committee will not be allocating funds in FY 2023. This is due to the fund being significantly depleted from funding construction for the new Post Falls Veterans Home. The Committee will re-evaluate in FY2023 whether grant funds will be allocated in FY 2024.

IDAHO VETERANS SUPPORT FUND

The Idaho Veterans Support Fund is a program that provides funds to applicants to assist projects that benefit veterans. IDVS accepts applications year-round for this program. These are small grants, no greater than $5,000.

IDAHO VETERAN HOUSING BENEFITS

There are three state veterans’ homes in Idaho: Boise, Lewiston, and Pocatello. The fourth Idaho veterans’ home, in Post Falls is scheduled to open in 2022. Applicants may be peacetime or wartime veterans, with wartime veterans retaining priority admission status. Applicants must have been discharged under honorable conditions and be an Idaho resident. Applicants must be unemployable because of age, illness, or disability, and must apply for and be eligible for Medicaid benefits or must pay a monthly fee.

INCOME TAX

Military pay is tax free if stationed out-of-state.

Military retirement and SBP recipients can deduct up to $37,776 of their retirement/SBP income for a single filer or $56,664 for a joint filer. This amount changes annually and only applies to veterans or their un-remarried surviving spouses, age 65 or older, or disabled and age 62 or older.

PROPERTY TAX

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, or those rated unemployable by the VA may reduce the property on their home and up to one acre of land by as much as $1,500. The program doesn’t have an income limit.

Veterans with at least a 10% service-connected disability may reduce the property tax on their home by up to $1,500 if they have income of $32,230 or less for 2021.

GROCERY TAX CREDIT

Veterans aged 65 or older, or disabled and age 62 or older, may claim the Grocery Tax Credit even when not required to file an income tax return if VA disability benefits are the veteran’s only income.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Provides up to a $1,000 grant, in cases of extreme emergency, to wartime veterans in need of assistance. Must have entered the military from Idaho or lived within the state for at least 5 years. The event or emergency must have occurred within 90 days of the request.

STATE EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE

Idaho state employment gives preference points for active-duty veterans. Honorably discharged veterans get 5 preference points, disabled veterans get 10 preference points. Surviving spouses who have not remarried can get the same points as the veteran.

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES

Idaho offers military members and their families expedited processing for occupational licenses. They also accept credit for military training that is relevant to the occupational license/registration being applied for.

Idaho residents on active, reserve or guard duty do not have to pay any professional or occupational license or renewal fees while in the military. Also, service members holding an occupational or professional license will have that license’s expiration date extended until six months after they leave the service.

The state of Idaho may accept your military education, training, and experience toward meeting the qualifications for a license, certification or registration. Idaho also expedites license applications of military spouses.

IDAHO STATE PARKS VETERANS PASS

Idaho resident 100% service-connected disabled veterans get free access and camping at Idaho State Parks.

HUNTING & FISHING LICENSES

Resident disabled veterans may be eligible for reduced fees for licenses and tags.

Nonresident disabled veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 40% are eligible for nonresident reduced fees for licenses and tags.

IDAHO STATE VETERANS’ CEMETERIES

The Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries are in Blackfoot and Boise. The eligibility requirements for burial at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery follow the National Veterans Cemetery eligibility requirements and Idaho law. There is no requirement to be a resident of the state of Idaho.