Service comes with sacrifice, and a long career often means leaving active duty with a VA rating. I should know. After 25 years in the Air Force, I went through all the appointments and received my own rating when I got my DD-214.
This is one of the best benefits Virginia offers veterans, and one of the least understood.
I get questions about it all the time. Does it count if I'm rated through TDIU? Does my spouse keep it? What happens at closing? Can I use it on acreage in Hanover? So here's the plain-English version, county by county, for the Richmond area.
What the Exemption Actually Covers
Virginia voters added this to the state constitution, and it's been in effect since January 1, 2011. The rules live in Virginia Code § 58.1-3219.5.
Here's what qualifies:
- Your home. The house you live in as your primary residence is fully exempt. Not a discount. Fully exempt.
- The land under it. Every locality has to exempt at least one acre. Many counties around Richmond go up to 10 acres.
- Garages and sheds. A detached garage, shed or other outbuilding is exempt too, as long as it's for your vehicles and household stuff, not a business.
- Property you own with your spouse. Joint property of a married couple counts in full.
- Most living trusts. If your home is in a revocable trust that you (or you and your spouse) control, it still qualifies.
What doesn't qualify: rental properties, second homes, and anything you lease.
Who Qualifies
You need a VA rating of 100% service-connected, permanent and total. It's based on your rating, not your compensation amount, and there's no income or net worth test.
If you're rated permanent and total through TDIU (individual unemployability), localities generally treat that as qualifying too. Bring your VA benefits letter and confirm with your county's office, since they're the ones who make the call.
One thing that trips people up: a 100% rating that isn't marked permanent and total won't qualify. If your letter doesn't spell it out, request an updated benefits summary letter from the VA before you apply.
What It's Worth: A Real Example
Let's say you buy a $450,000 home in Midlothian. Chesterfield's 2026 rate is $0.89 per $100 of assessed value.
That's $4,005 a year in property taxes you don't pay. About $334 a month that never goes into your escrow.
Over 10 years, that's more than $40,000. And that's before assessments go up. (Here's what that same exemption is worth in each locality, using my 2026 Richmond-area tax rate comparison.)
Here's where it gets interesting for buyers. If your lender factors the exemption into your payment, that $334 a month can be the difference between the house you can afford and the one you actually want. Ask your lender early how they'll handle it.
The Part Most Buyers Miss: Apply Before You Close
Since 2023, Virginia law lets you apply before you own the home. You submit your VA letter and your signed purchase agreement, and the county has 20 business days to send you a letter saying whether you're approved and how much the exemption is worth on that property.
The exemption itself starts the day you take ownership. But having that letter in hand while you're under contract means:
- You and your lender know your real monthly payment.
- There are no surprises on your first tax bill.
- Your closing attorney can handle the tax proration correctly.
Chesterfield has a pre-approval checkbox right on its application. I'd get this filed the same week you go under contract.
County by County: Where to Apply
Every locality runs its own application. Here's the local rundown:
| Locality | Who handles it | Land covered | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Richmond | Office of the City Assessor, (804) 646-7500 | Confirm with office | Bring your VA letter plus a Virginia driver's license or voter card showing the address |
| Henrico | Dept. of Finance, Real Estate Assessment, (804) 501-4306 | Up to 10 acres | Application must be notarized; one-time filing |
| Chesterfield | Commissioner of the Revenue, (804) 748-1281 | Up to 10 acres | Pre-approval option on the form; apply online through the Citizen Portal |
| Hanover | Commissioner of the Revenue, (804) 365-6128 | Up to 10 acres | Form lets you authorize your agent or closing attorney to talk with the office |
| Goochland | Commissioner of the Revenue, (804) 556-5807 | Up to 10 acres | Bring your VA letter |
| Powhatan | Commissioner of the Revenue | Confirm with office | Ask about acreage if you're looking at land |
If you're shopping for acreage, this table matters. Ten acres in Goochland or Hanover can be fully exempt. The same land somewhere with a one-acre cap means you'll still pay tax on the rest.
Timing and Paperwork Tips
File once. You only refile if your primary residence changes. Move across town, file again.
File fast. You keep paying taxes until the county approves you in writing. Refunds for taxes you paid before filing don't come with interest, so there's no upside to waiting.
Co-owners matter. If someone other than your spouse is on the deed (a parent or adult child, for example), the exemption is prorated by ownership share. Talk through how you'll title the home before closing.
Extended care doesn't break it. If you or your spouse spends a long stretch in a hospital or nursing facility, the home still counts as your residence as long as it isn't rented out.
Denied? You can appeal eligibility decisions to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
Surviving Spouses
The surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran keeps the exemption as long as the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, the veteran was eligible at the time of death, and the spouse doesn't remarry. It applies even if the veteran never filed for it.
Here's a change worth knowing: under current Virginia law, a surviving spouse can move to a different home and keep the exemption. Some county forms and websites still say otherwise. If you're told you can't move, ask the office to check § 58.1-3219.5(B).
Surviving spouses will need the veteran's death certificate and your marriage certificate.
Don't Forget Your Vehicle
Since 2021, Virginia also exempts one vehicle owned and used primarily by a 100% P&T veteran from personal property tax. It's a separate application, though Chesterfield combines both on one form. The vehicle exemption ends with the veteran and doesn't pass to a surviving spouse.
My Take
If you're rated 100% P&T and buying around Richmond, this exemption should shape your search from day one. It changes your budget, it changes the math on acreage, and it can change which county makes the most sense for you.
It also stacks nicely with your VA loan. With a 10% or higher disability rating, you don't pay the VA funding fee either. If you're still weighing loans, start with my VA vs. conventional breakdown and my guide to using your VA loan in Short Pump.
I've walked clients through this exact process, and I'm happy to do the same for you. Looking at Chesterfield, Henrico or somewhere with a little land? Call or text me and we'll figure out where your benefit goes furthest.
FAQ
Do I have to pay property taxes in Virginia if I'm 100% disabled?
Not on your primary residence, if the VA rates you 100% service-connected, permanent and total. Your home and at least one acre are fully exempt, and many Richmond-area counties cover up to 10 acres.
Is there an income limit for the Virginia disabled veteran tax exemption?
No. It's based only on your VA rating. Income and net worth don't matter.
Can I apply for the exemption before I buy a house?
Yes. Submit your VA letter and purchase agreement to the locality. They have 20 business days to tell you if you're approved and how much the exemption is worth. It takes effect when you take ownership.
Does a surviving spouse keep the exemption?
Yes, if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, was eligible at death, and the spouse doesn't remarry. Under current law, the spouse can also move and keep it.
How many acres are exempt in Chesterfield and Henrico?
Both exempt the home and up to 10 acres. So do Hanover and Goochland.
Do I have to reapply every year?
No. You file once and only refile if your primary residence changes.
Rules and county details verified October 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor makes the final call on eligibility.